A Man Died Today

The bell rang 33 times,
Only 33 times.
A young man died today.

You’d think with one so young
There would be many to mourn.
No.

For
There was scandal.
There were whispers.
He hung out with other men
(and street people).
One man – were they too close?
He slept with his head on the
young man’s breast!
It just isn’t done.

I looked at him as he hung dying.
He’d been tortured
But he also looked ravaged.
Had he been sick?
Maybe it’s better not to talk
about these things.

A young man died today.

But
He ignored the scandalous lies.
His silent truth
echoed to the heavens.
The pure charity that
he extended,
The chaste intimacy that
he shared
Was not understood.

I looked at him as he hung dying.
I watched as he died.
They pierced his breast!
He was ravaged
by my sin.

Jesus Christ died today.