My poet-self is a kid-self who sees things going on at the edge of the picture and comments on them loudly. She's a handful, but I'm grateful to her for the poems! Thanks so much for reading, Rose.
Isn't he a dear? There's a reference in one of the Gospels (maybe it's also Matthew?) that the donkey Jesus sends the disciples to find is young, "never ridden." I imagined that like most decent creatures he'd do his best to live up to meeting Jesus -- and if his best is slightly comic, being a donkey, well, that's fine too. 🩶
Oooooo, I love this! For all the deep and profound reasons fellow readers mention, but also how it flits around to the scenes where the governor’s wife may have learned of or encountered Jesus. Some of my friends at home and I especially love the line about the “young gray donkey, silly with dignity.”
So glad you and your friends noticed the donkey, Petrina! Imagine the little guy minding his own business and then someone gets on his back and all of a sudden he's leading a parade ...!
Well done, this is brilliant! I love how you shine the light on that one forgotten, small part of the story and remind us how it echoes the bigger picture.
Such an interesting tidbit of one of the four readings of that day's events. So curious. I hope she cut him off sex for the rest of his life. Speaking of this topic, I always wondered how Joseph was okay with Mary getting pregnant immaculately. He must have been an exceedingly trusting man. 99.99% of the men of his time would have accused her of either infidelity or witchcraft and either way, things would not have gone well for our deal old Mary.
You have a lot of company in marveling at Joseph's forbearance. In one of the Gospels (Matthew again!) he makes a plan to back out of the relationship in the least damaging way possible, given the times ... but gets a heads-up from an angel that the conception is an act of God and he should go ahead and marry the girl. And does, bless him.
It's a poet's job (this poet's, anyway) to point at what's going on over there at the edge of the story. I'm glad it gave you to think! Thanks so much for reading, Nancy. 🌼
I love this: the cadences, the swing from one vignette to the next, the capture of moments within moments, and especially the incredible question of what it meant to the sufferer.
I'll add just one note that captures my thoughts from the story itself: Pilate's wife was the only person who spoke in Jesus' defense during the trial. He did not speak for himself. The crowd turned against him. She didn't argue his guilt--she knew that Pilate knew he was innocent. But she spoke for him in the only way she could. <3
Thanks so much, Tara. Fun fact: this poem is one of a series I've written over years about women who encountered Jesus in the Gospel stories ... mostly unnamed women (in the stories), some silent (in the stories) and some speaking, all distinct and remarkable individuals and treated as such by Himself -- if not always by the preachers who've followed.
More poems from that series will probably show up here over time. They're some of my favorites.
Poignant, intimate observation of a peripheral character whose dream held truth albeit no power. A reminder to always speak your truth even if its message falls on deaf ears.
“…can be enough sometimes, can sometimes still be more” is not clear to me🤓. Magnificent poem.
My husband and I have been watching the television series The Chosen, and in season 3 Pontius Pilate's wife is one of the characters portrayed. The way the director depicted her dream is both stunning and prescient.
Your poem captures something beautiful between the lines, especially these:
"but failure and death aren’t necessarily the end of the story. Not when love and truth are at the story’s heart."
Thank you for the Easter wishes--the day upon 'which all the rest depends' as the Book of Common Prayer says. This Evangelical likes that phrase immensely.
(Also, The Chosen is actually a non-network crowdfunded project, a multi-season exploration of the life of Jesus and the disciples. Unlike any 'Jesus show' I've ever seen.
Procia or Procula, later Claudia Procula.
I did discover on Wikipedia that there is a lot of unofficial musing on Pilate's wife, and she is regarded as a saint in the Eastern church.
How amazing! Have they given her a name?
Pilate’s wife was unnamed and only identified in relationship țo her husband.
Wives/women had their “place”.
Were her dreams even (remotely) heard?
Was Pilate of weak-mindedness?
Or was the devil in the works?
Your poem provoked so many thoughts…just as it should at Easter.
💛🌿
I wonder if her dreams continued to disturb her for the rest of her life--or maybe she had perfect peace. We will never know... ❤️
No, we won't know -- but I hope she received some peace. Or at least some hope, after the next round of stories started circulating in Jerusalem.
Easter peace and joy to you, Ann. 💛
Only you would notice that one line and then make a wonderful poem from it! I don't think that line ever registered with me. Thanks!
My poet-self is a kid-self who sees things going on at the edge of the picture and comments on them loudly. She's a handful, but I'm grateful to her for the poems! Thanks so much for reading, Rose.
And where did you find that young grey donkey, silly with dignity? Happy that you did!
Isn't he a dear? There's a reference in one of the Gospels (maybe it's also Matthew?) that the donkey Jesus sends the disciples to find is young, "never ridden." I imagined that like most decent creatures he'd do his best to live up to meeting Jesus -- and if his best is slightly comic, being a donkey, well, that's fine too. 🩶
Thank you for telling me this.
Oooooo, I love this! For all the deep and profound reasons fellow readers mention, but also how it flits around to the scenes where the governor’s wife may have learned of or encountered Jesus. Some of my friends at home and I especially love the line about the “young gray donkey, silly with dignity.”
So glad you and your friends noticed the donkey, Petrina! Imagine the little guy minding his own business and then someone gets on his back and all of a sudden he's leading a parade ...!
What a guy! If an angel appeared to me I’d sign on to any number of numbskull ideas.
😇🪽
Well done, this is brilliant! I love how you shine the light on that one forgotten, small part of the story and remind us how it echoes the bigger picture.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Donna!
Such an interesting tidbit of one of the four readings of that day's events. So curious. I hope she cut him off sex for the rest of his life. Speaking of this topic, I always wondered how Joseph was okay with Mary getting pregnant immaculately. He must have been an exceedingly trusting man. 99.99% of the men of his time would have accused her of either infidelity or witchcraft and either way, things would not have gone well for our deal old Mary.
Haha! I'm guessing cutting him off likely didn't work but she would have had her ways to get her point across anyway.
The least he deserved...! I hope so too.
You have a lot of company in marveling at Joseph's forbearance. In one of the Gospels (Matthew again!) he makes a plan to back out of the relationship in the least damaging way possible, given the times ... but gets a heads-up from an angel that the conception is an act of God and he should go ahead and marry the girl. And does, bless him.
This is wonderful.
Thanks so much, Margaret Ann.
wow. I hadn't ever given much thought to the wife or her dream. Or how much courage it would take for her to speak of it. Thank you.
It's a poet's job (this poet's, anyway) to point at what's going on over there at the edge of the story. I'm glad it gave you to think! Thanks so much for reading, Nancy. 🌼
I love this: the cadences, the swing from one vignette to the next, the capture of moments within moments, and especially the incredible question of what it meant to the sufferer.
I'll add just one note that captures my thoughts from the story itself: Pilate's wife was the only person who spoke in Jesus' defense during the trial. He did not speak for himself. The crowd turned against him. She didn't argue his guilt--she knew that Pilate knew he was innocent. But she spoke for him in the only way she could. <3
She did, God love her. Thank you for sharing your reflections on the poem and on the story, Amy.
I am always here for art that restores forgotten women's lives and words to the world.
Thanks so much, Tara. Fun fact: this poem is one of a series I've written over years about women who encountered Jesus in the Gospel stories ... mostly unnamed women (in the stories), some silent (in the stories) and some speaking, all distinct and remarkable individuals and treated as such by Himself -- if not always by the preachers who've followed.
More poems from that series will probably show up here over time. They're some of my favorites.
Poignant, intimate observation of a peripheral character whose dream held truth albeit no power. A reminder to always speak your truth even if its message falls on deaf ears.
“…can be enough sometimes, can sometimes still be more” is not clear to me🤓. Magnificent poem.
Thanks so much, Shari. I too am still sitting with the mystery of that last line -- maybe someday one of us will understand it...! ❤️
My husband and I have been watching the television series The Chosen, and in season 3 Pontius Pilate's wife is one of the characters portrayed. The way the director depicted her dream is both stunning and prescient.
Your poem captures something beautiful between the lines, especially these:
"but failure and death aren’t necessarily the end of the story. Not when love and truth are at the story’s heart."
How wonderful that the television series "saw" her and imagined her dream!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Jody. Blessings of Holy Week and Easter to you and yours.
Thank you for the Easter wishes--the day upon 'which all the rest depends' as the Book of Common Prayer says. This Evangelical likes that phrase immensely.
(Also, The Chosen is actually a non-network crowdfunded project, a multi-season exploration of the life of Jesus and the disciples. Unlike any 'Jesus show' I've ever seen.
https://thechosen.tv/en-us)