And then the palms

After Mark 1:1-11

First the colt, and then

the cloaks placed on it

as a saddle. And then 

the palms, leafy branches

cut from trees, strewn

in front of the colt

he rides along the way,

And then the singing,

the psalms of praise

carried by the wind,

a synchronized shout

of worship, the people

thinking he is 

the messiah,

the promised one,

the earthly messiah

come to deliver them

from earthly oppressors,

to bring them into freedom,

the exodus from pharaoh.

Shouts and noise rise

together, a misunderstanding 

of what he was about.

The colt knew.

The colt knew enough

to serve its purpose.

Photograph by Augustine Wong via Unsplash. Used with permission.

And then the cloaks

After Mark 1:1-11

First the colt, found

where they were told

it would be found. Then

the questions, as they

were told they would

be questioned. And 

then the delivery 

of the unridden colt

to its new master,

And then the cloaks.

They placed their cloaks

on the colt, a makeshift

saddle, a saddle 

of honor, a saddle

of worship.

Photograph by Sheri Hooley via Unsplash. Used with permission.

First, a colt

After Mark 1:1-11

It’s first the story

of a colt (some say

a donkey), a colt

toed and waiting

patiently for its

master. Except

this day, its master

would be unexpected,

a new master and

a new way, a man

who sent two disciples 

ahead to find the animal,

precisely where he said

it would be. No one 

had yet to sit

on the colt, ever;

this colt had been

set aside for a task,

a sacred task, 

a task and an act 

to be remembered

for all time.

The master knew 

the colt, down

to the smallest detail.

Photograph by Sheri Hooley via Unsplash. Used with permission.