So often you look at something
without really seeing it like when
we saw you & your ten friends
staring into the sky
Later that day you couldn’t say
without first closing your eyes
if the clouds had been high
& wispy or thick & glacier white
& we not thinking of your shock
at hopes yanked away then restored
only saw the unblinking eyes
of eleven men turned toward heaven
though since your Lord had just slipped
from sight your hearts burned
& again might whenever clouds come near
to the way they appeared that day
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D.S. Martin
D.S. Martin is Poet-in-Residence at McMaster Divinity College, the Series Editor for the Poiema Poetry Series, the editor behind three poetry anthologies, and author of four poetry collections—the most recent of which is Ampersand (2018, Cascade). He and his wife Gloria have two sons, one of whom is an Alliance pastor.
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What I think would even be much more fascinating, and has not been reported…is the dialogue that took place in the Upper Room, after they returned from the “sky gazing experience”. Some day, i hope that
I can press a “replay button” in heaven, to listen in on the conversations that took place after the first rapture. Were the women also informed of this experience. What was the strategy discussed, what would have been the reflections on the life they have just led for 3 + years? Who participated in the conversations ; what would Peter have said…did James already take leadership…or was James, the brother of Jesus invited at a later date, to join the disciples…Where was Jude? When did he enter into the empowered disciple team.? I have more questions than answers..& it all began after the ascension
experience.
I would like to have been present to hear the conversations that took place that night after the ascension.
Excellent poem. It captures the amazement of those watching, not really noticing the clouds in detail, watching the Lord until gone. Then makes us wonder when we look to the clouds,
do we anticipate His Return.