The Iron Cross
THEY pass, with heavy eyes and hair,
Before the Christ upon the Cross,
The Nations, stricken with their loss,
And lifting faces of despair.
What is the prayer they pray to Him,
Christ Jesus on the Iron Cross?
The Christ, neglected, dark with moss,
Whose hands are pierced, whose face is grim.
Is it forgiveness for great sin
They plead before the Iron Cross?
Or for some gift of gold or dross?
Or battle lost, that they would win?
With eyes where hate and horror meet,
They pass before the Iron Cross,
The Cross, that ancient words emboss,
Where hangs the Christ with nail-pierced feet.
His hair is fallen on his face.
His head hangs sidewise from the Cross —
The Crucified, who knows all loss,
And had on Earth no resting place.
'O world of men,' he seems to say,
'Behold me on your Iron Cross!
To me why kneel and tell your loss?
Why kneel to me and weep and pray?
'Have I not taught you to forgive?
And bade you from my Iron Cross
Believe, and bear your grief and loss,
That after death you too may live?
'You have not followed at my call!
You keep me on this Iron Cross,
And pray me keep you from all loss,
And save and comfort you withal.—
'You ask for love, and hate the more! —
You keep me on this Iron Cross!—
Restore to me my greater loss,
The brotherhood of rich and poor.'
They pass, with weary eyes and hair,
Before the Christ upon the Cross —
The Nations, wailing of their loss,
And lifting faces of despair.
poem by Madison Julius Cawein
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Look To The Cross
When they saw Christ's death upon the cross
Many counted it a tragic loss
But for the believers they counted it gain
Never to fear eternity ever again
Now as the Easter season quickly draws near
Do I look to the cross with joy or with fear?
Knowing that I have rejected the Lord
Or is He my savior and I'm following His word?
For many people it's jewelry and nothing more
Something pretty that's often wore.
Believers in Christ often wear the cross too
They wear it as a symbol of God's love so true
As believers in Christ we must see past the cross
Knowing Christ's death was not a tragic loss
The cross like the toomb now stands empty and forlorn
They're here to remind us in Christ we're reborn
In this Easter season when we look to the cross
Let us count it a joy and never a loss
03/28/04
The Cross
Two fallen twigs when kept across
Can form a cross;
Two blades of grass just put cris-cross
Becomes a cross.
Two fingers placed atop the next
Looks like a cross;
A wire-mesh has umpteen crosses,
Like stars the sky across.
The cross is symbol of Christians;
The cross is pride of all baptized;
The cross instills love of Jesus;
The cross is feared by all devils!
The cross is sign of faith in God;
The cross means sacrifice like Christ;
The cross reminds of victory over death;
Carry your cross and follow Christ.
The cross can save the worst sinner;
The cross is sign of after-life;
The cross means Christ is Son of God!
The cross leads always to heaven.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 10-30-2009
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Who Actually Killed Christ?
Christ came to die for you and me and on the cross He set us free,
Freed from a life of sin and pain, freed my friend to be Born-Again.
Everyone who looks to the cross shall be saved from eternal loss,
Jesus came to save all who are lost and on Calvary He paid the cost.
It was the determination of God you see to nail His Son upon a tree,
Though He died at the hands of men God foreknew just how and when.
It was Satan's biggest loss for Christ claimed Victory on the cross,
It pleased God, at His Son's cost, as He saved sinners who were lost.
Worldly wisdom could not see that religion played a part at Calvary,
God's sign that The Law did end was when the temple curtain was rent.
God ended any need for religious dross when He turned to the cross,
With man now redeemed at the cross man's religion has been tossed.
Religion doesn't set men free, but only the finished work on Calvary,
Men's rules still leave you in sin, only in Christ are you forgiven.
The true Church of the Bloody Cross started on the day of Pentecost.
From that day at all cost believers have sought out all who are lost.
Man didn't say but God decreed that Jesus was pierced for you and me.
It was by His Father that Jesus was sent to be the Savior of all men.
It pleased God to use the cross to shed His blood to save the lost.
And He will judge all who scoff and in the Fire they will be tossed.
Poem: Song to the Holy Cross
The cross of love:
The cross I love:
The cross I'd loved all life;
The wooden cross:
The holy cross:
The cross that bore man's strife.
The oaken cross:
The heavy cross:
The cross Jesus carried;
The cross on which
Christ Lord was nailed:
And bore man's sins indeed.
The cross of death:
The blood-stained cross:
The Savior, man, redeemed;
The cross of life's
Victory o'er death:
That souls on earth must heed.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Great Folly
all children
of a pleasure
seeking age
seeking
painless lives
and yet
be christian
ignoring the fruit
of the
gospel page
that Christ
crucified
is our salvation
to accept Christ
is to accept
the cross
our rose is
accompanied
by the thorn
by the
cancer cell
or the
painful loss
this is the path
of those reborn
no neurotic
searching
or hoping
for pain
but peaceful
acceptance
if it be our lot
willing his will
as we bear
his name
let this be
the spirit
of our thought
the cross
is Jesus
and he is
the cross
viewed by many
as the great folly
but in rejection
it is their loss
as unto death
we travel daily
poem by Liam ó Comáin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Stand Redeemed
I stand Redeemed, for through The Blood of The Lord I was bought,
It was on The Cross of Christ that the war for my soul was fought.
He did not come for the righteous, but to seek and save all the lost,
His search did not bring Him treasure; instead it came at great cost.
The Lamb of God for me was slain and crucified upon a bloody cross,
Christ died for me, so that through Eternity I would not suffer loss.
The Son of God came to save but was mocked, scoffed at and despised,
This was by His own, lead by those who were wise in their own eyes.
When they were asked about Jesus, Crucify him! Is what they screamed,
Little did they know that through Christ God was saving the Redeemed.
He was lead to The Cross to die by men who were spiritually deceived,
But there were also men like Nicodemus who saw Christ and believed.
It was for the sins of His people, that The Lord Jesus was stricken.
And then Isaiah says that He was assigned a grave with the wicked.
It wasn't only for Israel He died, for on The Cross He took my place,
And all who like Nicodemus, can be saved through His Wonderful Grace.
Just as The Lord will discard all the wicked of the earth like dross,
The sins of all who believe are covered by The Blood of The Cross.
For ages the prophets looked towards a day of redemption and dreamed,
Now two thousand years later it's at The Cross that I stand Redeemed.
(Copyright © 04/2003)
Jesus’ Cross
The Holy Cross beckons
To follow Jesus Christ;
The source of strength and joy
To souls, for Lord athirst!
The Holy Cross guides us
To walk upon His steps;
The Son of God had died
To save mankind from sins.
The Holy Cross reminds
To place our trust in God;
Jesus resurrected
To annul man from rod.
The Holy Cross signals
That life has crosses, woes;
Yet, we must tread fearless;
Engages God, our foes!
The Holy Cross goads us
To carry each one’s cross;
Our war with satan’s won,
By Jesus, without loss!
The Holy Cross renews
Our ties with Jesus Lord;
He will come in glory
To judge mankind by Word!
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Inside The Cross of Iron Shadow
Inside The Cross of Iron Shadow
====================
Shape to Guide Aligned by Light
Formed of Cross Divide of Shadow
Light to Darken The Cross Within
The Dark Surround The Light With Out
Shape To Confine The Shadow Caste Of Iron Cross
Pieced Together The Puzzle Within
Immediate Light of Circumstantial
Fade to Black
Cross Fade to Light
The Sound Staged Within
Shadow Sounds Free of Night
Forged Of Iron Shadow
Holier Than Thou Be This Shadow Cross of Age
Cast of Moon Beam of Light to Burn
Outline of Cross Confines The Shadow Dark
Which Binds A Mind To Light
Fore There In No Way Exist
This One Without The Other Side of Good
As Day to Blackest Night of Evil
As Sun Give Rise to Dawn To Cast Away
The Nightmare Within A Mind Of Day and Shadow
Night of Day To Darkest Cross Beam of Light
To Light A Mind Eclipsed In Shadow
Forever In Light To Dark Shade of Gray Matter
Inside The Cross Of Iron Shadow.
poem by Ricardo Antunes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Praise The Cross Of Jesus
Today I praise the cross of Jesus, where He died and bled for me.
For on that very cross of Jesus, His bloody death has set me free.
Christ came to die for all of us, upon that bloody cross of Calvary.
And upon Him I place my trust, from this day through all Eternity.
It was upon the cross of Christ, that He came to die so I could live.
Christ came to offer to us His life, the gift His Father chose to give.
Jesus came to be our sacrifice, so that all our sins God will forgive.
It is through the blood of Jesus Christ, that I can now eternally live.
Nothing was done on my part, but to accept Christ and to believe.
Christ even moved upon my heart, with The Spirit that I received.
New Life in me He would start, the life The Spirit would conceive.
And for me, a message to impart, for New Life you must believe.
You must believe in Jesus Christ, who came to save you and me.
He sent The Spirit into this strife, to give us eyes so we could see,
That Jesus came to give men life, so that they could live eternally.
This life is found in Jesus Christ, and is from the blood of Calvary.
Friend, there is only but one name, that men can lift up and raise,
For no common man can claim, any credit and seek men’s praise.
No man’s glory and or fame, can compare to The Ancient of Days.
And Jesus Christ is the only name, that by all men will be praised.
The Holy Cross
O Holy Cross of Jesus Christ!
How must I come to Calvary?
– By giving up world’s pleasures first,
Carrying my own and follow Thee!
O Holy Cross that Christ had borne!
Take me to Heaven’s narrow gate;
Much strife my body does adorn,
My sufferings never abate!
O Holy Cross on which Christ died!
At times, in life I grow weary,
Although in God, I do abide;
With charm all lost, life seems dreary.
O Holy Cross that satan fears;
Then guide me in the way of light;
My stay on earth almost well nears;
Let Truth be always in my sight!
O Holy Cross: eternal sign;
In Jesus Christ, I trust my soul;
In Maker’s Feast, I wish to dine:
My only aim and earthly goal!
O Holy Cross that saves mankind;
Show me the dress of grace to don;
For only pure a heart and mind
Can see the face of God’s one Son!
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Cross Reference
When we cry at the Cross of Christ, the angels weep for joy,
For they know what was sacrificed for every girl and boy...
Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve, estranged by sin and shame,
This very day you can believe... Believe in Jesus' Name...
When we cry at the Cross of Christ, or kneel at Calvary,
Perhaps we'll even get baptised. God knows. Let's wait and see...
A billion Bibles aren't enough to feed the hungry souls
Who daily serve the King of Love and strive to meet His goals...
When we cry at the Cross of Christ, we witness from then on,
To shout, 'Hosanna in the highest! ' until the Devil's gone!
The Battle is the Lord's not ours, yet each is called by name.
His holy gifts and precious powers will prove we're not the same.
When we cry at the Cross of Christ, God helps us to repent,
We see God's Son so cheaply priced though He was Heaven sent.
Let wisdom guide us day by day and conscience night by night...
Let God's love teach us how to pray and help us do what's right...
Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2011.
Cross Reference is a programme on Revelation TV.
Once we become Christian believers, how are we to
go into all the world and present the Gospel of Jesus?
We can watch Revelation TV on Sky UK and
the website's Watch Now Internet connection.
Website: revelationtv-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Stars
(For the Rev. James J. Daly, S. J.)
Bright stars, yellow stars, flashing through the air,
Are you errant strands of Lady Mary's hair?
As she slits the cloudy veil and bends down through,
Do you fall across her cheeks and over heaven too?
Gay stars, little stars, you are little eyes,
Eyes of baby angels playing in the skies.
Now and then a winged child turns his merry face
Down toward the spinning world -- what a funny place!
Jesus Christ came from the Cross (Christ receive my soul!)
In each perfect hand and foot there was a bloody hole.
Four great iron spikes there were, red and never dry,
Michael plucked them from the Cross and set them in the sky.
Christ's Troop, Mary's Guard, God's own men,
Draw your swords and strike at Hell and strike again.
Every steel-born spark that flies where God's battles are,
Flashes past the face of God, and is a star.
poem by Joyce Kilmer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
More Than Just Life
I’m truly alive this very day, through The Truth, The Life and Way,
For today I’m alive in Jesus Christ, the Author of my Eternal Life.
I was alive but spiritually dead, with the certainty of death ahead,
But in The Spirit, Christ came to me, giving me new life Eternally.
I lived all of my days at a loss, in the shadow of Calvary’s Cross,
But then Christ pierced that night, with The Blessed Gospel Light.
On the cross, through His pain, I received from God eternal gain,
And now this life, I live for Him, The Lord who died for all my sin.
I no longer strive in emptiness, but live in Christ’s Righteousness,
A righteousness bestowed on me, from on that cross of Calvary.
A gift of God’s Awesome Grace, when His Son died in my place,
When this gift to me He did impart, He came to dwell in my heart.
Now I don’t live just to survive, but through The Lord I truly thrive,
Living for God an abundant life, through my Savior Jesus Christ.
With The Holy Spirit’s Power, Christ helps me every waking hour,
To live a special life for God, while on this mundane earthly sod.
My life doesn’t end down here, as the end of all is drawing near,
For I will be in a mansion sublime, to continue on for all of time,
And the life I’ve lived on earth, won’t compare to heaven’s worth,
Where we will live in perfect unity, with our Savior for all Eternity.
Thoughts Of Him
Yes my friend, there's only one, He is Almighty God's Eternal Son.
Yes indeed He's coming again, so are you really ready my friend?
You can be filled with His Power, in this dark and crucial hour.
What ever you are contemplating, He comes to those who are waiting.
With a heart filled with love, you can be fit for The Kingdom above.
The only way to truly start is to accept The Lord into your heart.
If your decision is truly sincerely, you will have nothing to fear.
From the cross He has one plea, believe in Me and I'll set you free.
The Cross is something to cherish, for without we all would perish.
For Christ Jesus died upon a tree, for sinful people like you and me.
His words to us are very clear, the reason why we're left down here.
I was bought with an awesome cost, to seek out those who are lost.
Jesus filled me with compassion to win, those around me lost in sin.
He teaches me Truth so I may impart words of life to a needy heart.
Christ leads me to an open heart, so His Words of Life I can impart.
He gave me such a deep desire, to snatch lost souls from the fire.
He shed His blood on The Cross, so we would not suffer Eternal loss.
With His blood He cleanses sin, and the entire world belongs to Him.
All who choose to simply mock, will be crushed by The Eternal Rock.
And they will suffer Eternal Loss, for they were bought at The Cross.
(Copyright © 03/2003)
Real Meaning Of Life
The real meaning of present life, begins at The Cross of Christ,
The cross on Mount Calvary, where Christ died for you and me,
Anywhere you travel on this sod, the Cross points men to God,
With a meaning far much higher, than any human earthly desire.
The Cross, purposed in this life, for man's Savior, Jesus Christ,
For the earthly life of Christ Jesus, not for Him, but for all of us,
His purpose came with a price, which was to be God's sacrifice,
As The Lord God purposed for Him, to be The Lamb for our sin.
Christ's example is for all men, in this world, God did condemn,
After sin had entered the earth, then The Lord put down a curse;
With a plan God had initiated, in a place where Christ was hated,
Crying for Him to be crucified; for them and All, Christ had died.
The Lord had left Heaven's majesty, to die for sinners at Calvary,
Surrendering His life for sinful man, all part of God's eternal plan,
Where Christ became sin for us, so we could gain righteousness,
This that through Jesus Christ, fallen man could attain eternal life.
For believers now on this earth, our present life has eternal worth,
Now with that promise of paradise, we are to be a living sacrifice,
Surrendering to God, all our life, to be witnesses for Jesus Christ,
So others, by the Cross of Calvary, may also secure life eternally.
The Cross Jesus Chose
Why on the cross did Jesus choose to die such a wicked death?
And why did He say, 'It is finished' as he breathed His final breath?
How was the temple curtain from the top to the bottom totally rent?
Was Christ the true Messiah whom the Prophets said would be sent?
God's righteous wrath on the cross was really meant for you and I,
But Christ took our punishment as His Father's anger was satisfied.
Not only on the cross did Christ die in the place of you and I,
But through His Blood on the cross, in God's eyes we are justified.
Christ cried, 'It is finished' as Salvation for all was now complete.
Returning to His Glory, at His Father's right hand, He took His Seat.
Yes that day was special, as after the curtain was rent it did fall,
Jesus Christ created total access to not only one nation, but to all.
The cross has been unequaled, as it was God's Grace that they saw,
For Christ was sent for all men, to be the fulfillment of the Law.
Yes, it was The Messiah on the cross, who suffered and truly died,
But the grave could not hold him, for in three days He rose Glorified.
God also gave us two examples that day and both were at his side,
One chose to believe in Jesus while the other just mocked and died.
You can choose to simply die my friend, but you'll suffer forevermore,
Or believe like the thief my friend and live eternally with The Lord.
(Copyright © 06/2002)
Good Friday...
Behold the wood that went to make the cross
That bore the Saviour Lord, King Jesus Christ:
The holy cross at Calvary on which
Was hung, the Redeemer of mankind race!
That man was only Son of God in flesh,
Who suffered, shed His precious blood as price
For every sin of everyone on earth,
Of Adam and of Eve in lineage!
It wasn’t about the cross that Jesus bore;
It was about the One who hung on it!
He came to earth as Mary’s baby boy,
And gave to men the Good News, peace and joy!
The cross of wood assumed significance
When Jesus died upon it for our sins;
The sacrifice supreme was love of God
For creature man of clay whom He had made!
When Christ resurrected upon third day,
And won o’er death and satan for all times,
The holy cross became the weapon sole
That scares away the devils back to hell!
The cross became the symbol of Christians,
Reminding man of Salvation for all,
As Christ had paid the price on our behalf,
And turned to be the Truth, Light, Way to God!
The holy cross beckons each one of us
To take up each one’s cross and follow Christ;
It is the only hope for all mankind
As life on earth becomes so meaningful!
God’s Love was born on Christmas day as Christ!
Man’s sins nailed Him to death upon the cross!
Christ’s obeisance to Father freed mankind
If repentant, from Fiery Pit of hell!
Reflect on passions Christ had undergone,
Before He died upon the holy cross;
Follow His teachings and precepts for man;
Heaven is nigh for sinners penitent!
(22-04-11)
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Lift up your heads, ye gates of brass;
Lift up your heads, ye gates of brass;
Ye bars of iron, yield!
And let the King of glory pass;
The Cross is in the field!
A holy war his servants wage,
Mysteriously at strife;
The powers of heaven and hell engage
For more than death or life.
Ye armies of the living God,
His sacramental host,
Where hallowed footstep never trod,
Take your appointed post.
Follow the Cross; the ark of Peace
Accompany your path:
To souls imprisoned bring release
From bondage and from wrath.
Uplifted are the gates of brass;
The bars of iron yield;
Behold the King of glory pass!
The Cross has won the field!
poem by James Montgomery
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Temptation of St. Anthony
-After a design by Félicien Rops-
The Cross, the Cross is tainted! O most Just,
Be merciful, and save me from this snare.
The Tempter lures me as I bend in prayer
Before the sacred symbol of our trust.
Yea, that most Holy of Holies feeds my lust,
The body of thy Christ; for, unaware,
Even as I kneel and pray, lo, She is there,
The temptress, she the wanton; and she hath thrust
The bruisèd body off, and all her own,
Shameless, she stretches on the cross, arms wide,
Limbs pendent, in libidinous mockery.
She draws mine eyes to her--Ah, sin unknown!
She smiles, she triumphs; but the Crucified
Falls off into the darkness with a cry.
poem by Arthur Symons
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
What is loss?
I resent
What loss represents
I resent
What great loss presents
So what’s the fuss about loss?
Waiting!
Debating!
Contemplating!
What is loss?
Something you care about
Taken away from you by force
Creating total unforgivable chaos
Thinking!
Blinking!
Seeking!
What is loss
It is a minus instead of a plus
Hence the unmistakable fuss
Death and sickness build up great grief
Loss brings despair instead of relief
And in loss itself I have no belief
I resent
What loss represents
I resent
What great loss presents
Loss! An inequitable cause
Thrown on you without a toss
So you become very cross
Because in your life you realize, you are never the only boss!
Copyright 2006 - Sylvia Chidi
poem by Sylvia Chidi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!