Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 36:71 (Autumn 2023)
Article: The Garden
Author: Kathryn Wright

JOTGES 36:71 (Autumn 2023) p. 75

The Garden

Kathryn Wright

When the light of the world dipped low
And twilight enclosed,
Do you suppose
The sweat from his brow dripped down1
Onto the dust-formed ground?2

With calloused hands, would he lay the plow
As the glow of the fire sparked anew?
Do you suppose the man would groan
As he turned to find his way home
And thought about me and you?3

Would the woman squint to see as the shadows grew thin,
While murder4 slept in her arms…
Would grief grip at the first sight of him,
As the flecks of gray on his face
Reflected back the price they pay?5

Or would she think of grace
And of the coolness of the days?6

Would they speak of the trees—
How their limbs bowed with fruit,7
Of the moss at their feet
And the peace they once knew?
Would they sigh at the thought
Of the nights that they shared?
Of the innocence and unimpaired?8

JOTGES 36:71 (Autumn 2023) p. 76

Or would they recall
How their fingers stuck…
As the juice from the fruit9
Covered their hands;
How they plucked the leaves
To hide their shame;10
How they laid the blame11
On another?
Do you suppose the mother
Of all the living12 ever spoke of how He came,
Calling out the sinner’s name?13

Do you suppose,
In shame-filled tones
As the fire would grow dim,
These ancients would whisper
And huddle close,
And speak of the days they walked with Him

In the garden?

When the bride of Christ would gather
In crammed and sweaty rooms—14
Sleepy-eyed and tired—
To hear about her Groom,15
Do you suppose,
As the meeting closed
And hands...