Updated on April 17, 2020
Poem for the Second Sunday of Easter
RESURRECTION
by R. S. Thomas (1913 – 2000)
Easter. The grave clothes of winter
are still here, but the sepulchre
is empty. A messenger
from the tomb tells us
how a stone has been rolled
from the mind, and a tree lightens
the darkness with its blossom.
There are travellers upon the roads
who have heard music blown
from a bare bough, and a child
tells us how the accident
of last year, a machine stranded
beside the way for lack
of petrol is covered with flowers.
___________________
This poem gives snatches of the disciples’ unsettling experiences of
their resurrected Lord – glimpses of the empty tomb, a stone rolled
away, an angelic messenger, a meeting on the road home. Jesus
comes and goes. How could they get their minds round what they
experienced?
How do we experience resurrection in this very strange and unsettling
time? The final messenger in RS Thomas’ unexpected resurrection
poem is a child. The child notices and shares how an abandoned
machine has been transformed by flowers. How might we experience
resurrection in these bleak disturbing times, when grown ups and
children alike are in lock down?
Let’s come as small children with our hopes and fears to our Father.
Can we let our inner child out to play? Let’s pray to notice, whenever
possible, what gives unexpected joy and delight and spot the surprise of
resurrection, even in the toughest of times, under our very
noses!
– Tina Lamb
A fresh breeze outside, oak boughs swaying, a house wren singing on the fence post: resurrection “in these bleak disturbing times.” Thank you for this, Lissy. I’ll keep noticing today.