The last prophecy

After Luke 23:26-31 

The women weep

to see him dragged

through dusty streets,

bearing the cross

upon his back 

until he can bear

no more; Simon

of Cyrene is

made to bear it,

as the one is

dragged to the hill.

The women weep;

he says to them

don’t weep for me,

weep for yourselves

for you children,

the days will come

when women weep,

when women wish

they never gave birth,

or nursed children,

asking mountains

to fall on them

and asking hills

to cover them.

Weep for that time;

don’t weep for me.

 

Photograph by Birmingham Museums Trust via Unsplash. Used with permission.