And then there were……

So they sat down, as friends to start,

To share a celebration,

Remembering, with thankfulness,

How God had saved their nation.

 

Friends to wine and dine together,

Tokens freely given,

Conversation took a turn,

One self so unforgiving.

 

Temptation’s path and distorted dreams

Had all his mind perverted.

His answer, shameless in its crime,

Betray friend, and truth subverted.

 

Thirteen there were till one arose

And, blessed, went on his way.

In coinage, took his lonely walk.

Two more would end his day.

 

One to garden for a kiss,

A final, sad farewell,

His part, a thankless task ordained.

A friend’s version of true hell.

 

Betrayal done and trust full killed,

His final journey called

To tree, to end his misery,

With tears and heart embroiled.

 

All parts we play, unseen sometimes,

Chosen for a reason.

Judas, sadly for himself,

Was called as man for season.

 

So twelve remained but for a while

Till other one departed,

In pain and then in glory’s smile,

Salvation so imparted.

 

Eleven now to claim the cause,

To carry spirit’s light

And journey far, with few possessions,

Into strange and wondrous night.

 

Remembering our saddest days,

Though filled with great vexation,

May, contrarily, be found

To hold great expectation.

 

Our numbers swell as hearts do tell

Of forgiveness not still-born

When Man is cruel and others weep,

New hope and life reborn.

 

Unlucky though thirteen appears

For just the reasons given,

Surely parts, when played as asked,

Still call all souls to heaven?

 

For such as we in bitter times

Hope gone, hell’s finger beckons,

Remember still we cannot judge

Only God can count and reckons

 

The worth of soul, the value weighed,

Not in feathers nor in gold

But in doing what’s appointed us,

No soul has then been sold.

 

‘Tis hope and light that show the way,

Is mighty in its splendour

And manifest in all who seek

In source and God’s own wonder.

 

All answers to our sad ailments,

Out terror filled alarm,

In trust and actions may we sit down

At table, no thought of harm.

 

So thirteen then will live again

Till figures crowd our eyes,

Hands reaching out, all roles owned,

Source, Life, God, satisfied.

 

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