A5- PART Q

A gospel in blank verse with rhymed parables
And thus, on loan, this donkey’s foal, this colt,
as yet un-ridden and untried, was brought
to Jesus and a sort of saddle made
of cloaks and other garments spread upon
its back. So, when he’d mounted it and rode
towards Jerusalem, then everyone
with clothes to spare, discarded them to make
his way as smooth as possible – to cheer,
to honour and to celebrate a man
who had brought health and hope and miracles
wherever he had gone. ‘Blessed is he,’
they cried, ‘who comes to us in God’s own name.’
Yet Zechariah had foretold all this:
‘Come! Shout aloud! Your king is on his way:
patient and meek and riding on a colt.’
So now ‘Hosanna’ was the cry. ‘The King
of Israel is on his way, whose deeds
and mighty works we’ve all seen for ourselves.’
Those close to him could see he was in tears
and speaking to the city (as it were)
he said, ‘If only at so late an hour
you recognised that peace and sinlessness
are indivisible. But you are blind:
and one day every enemy you have
will threaten and blockade and capture you.
The buildings people look upon with pride
will be demolished and reduced to dust
and your inhabitants all left for dead.
Why so? Because you did not recognise
just Who it was had come to visit you’.
i