Your wide eyes look out further
than our gaze can reach, far beyond
earth’s bounds, our sun and moon,
the limits of human understanding.
What do you see as you hang there
abandoned and stretched out in pain?
Around you, other faces, cross-
eyed and confused are searching.
Deprived of light and hope, they
cannot pierce the darkness; each
compelled to look, wanting
to witness, but afraid to see.
Your gaze is fixed on God
whose aching heart is full of love
for frail humanity. We try to follow
that pure gaze, but struggle through
our tears, the mire of doubt, lack
of faith, incomprehension.
We cannot, would not wish to join
you in your suffering, but pray
for strength to stay and watch,
keeping our eyes steady so that we,
held in your loving gaze, eventually
may see through pain to glory.