A Corona of Thorns: Sonnets for the Stations of the Cross

7. Christ is Placed in the Tomb

The breath of God returns now to its birth,

The second Adam’s dust to Adam’s dust.

Some spices seek to cheat devouring Earth

Of her fair prey for Eden’s broken trust.

Through Him one son, one daughter dodged the grave,

And Lazarus the grave clothes shortly left,

Undid their dying ‘til another day:

But death’s Undoer’s now been done to death.

With Roman signs and soldiers seal the tomb

To guard from those whom fear now holds in ward.

With bars and bolts lock up the upper room

To ward off those whom fear now keeps on guard.

And silently inside the tomb Christ lies:

Here falls he last to know that he must rise.