I cannot sing, nor do I want to
To that Jesus on the cross
But rather to the One that
walked on water.
For Christians all over the world, today — Good Friday — is one of the saddest days of the year. So the sentiment expressed above by Spanish poet Antonio Machado is one, particularly, that many children might feel on this day. And yet, one cannot enter into the religious celebration of Easter without first experiencing the death of its central figure, Jesus Christ.
Good Friday is observed all over the world in various ways. There are masses, worship services, processions and rituals carried out. Writing or reading poetry is also a way to observe the day. You might take out some good books about Easter from the library or check out the plethora of websites out there on poetry and Easter. I took out an oldie found for me by my librarian friend from our local library titled Easter Poems by well known children’s poetry anthologist Myra Cohn Livingston, illustrated by John Wallner (Holiday House, 1985) and found many good poems that reflect both the “joy and solemnity of the holiday” as the jacket flap blurb indicates. Today is about the solemnity, of course, but soon joy will come. Here’s an excerpt from one poem “These Three” by X.J. Kennedy that begins with the solemn lines:
These three on Friday
Lay cloudy, dark and still:
Shadows
Of three crosses
On cold Golgotha Hill
Of course, the poem ends with a trio of images of the joy yet to come.
What books do you read to your children on this day? Give us your recommendations, poetic or otherwise. Today’s Poetry Friday host is Kate at Book Aunt.
