And Jesus Stood

An excerpt from Holy Week Sonnets, by Philip Rosenbaum

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. Matthew 27:11

Not all the stages set by mortal hands

And decorated long and lavishly

To evoke the flavor of exotic lands—

And yet to do it with such subtlety

That men hear nothing but heroic speech,

Envision nothing but the lovers' kiss—

Whatever heights theatric art may reach,

They'll ne'er do justice to a scene like this.

The stage, the script, the lights, and all the skill

of actors practiced till they could not err

Performed the Author-and-Director's will:

The moon paused in the path prepared for her;

The sun was silent; all the stars grew still—

And Jesus stood before the governor.