Looking On From A Distance

There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid. Mark 15:40-47 

Looking On From A Distance

The terror within looking on from a distance
when love and prayer cannot stop the abuse
beaten and hung on a cross among theives
the helper of all we are helpless to save.

The tears dried like ocean's salt on my face
storms within and without with no relief
the pain is not ours but the horror mine
alone in the crowd who think death a sport.

Helpless and poor, with no clout or say
governments and officials whisk the dying away
I cannot bear to see him buried quite yet
they will not let us near so we just stare.

When there is nothing left to do but see it
taking it in completely and being a part
this day of horror, sorrow and great loss
might someday transform our broken world.

Today is a day for clearly remembering
I will never forget where I was on this day
yet some will thing me foolish and weak
since really I just looked on in the distance.