A Poem

On the third day, when morning comes
On the breath of songs birds sing,
Three women enter the lower garden
To cleanse their dead, but discover an empty tomb.
The grave is what holds us, not those
Women who found the courage to ask
Roman guards to roll away the stone
So they could purify a loved one’s wounds.
Nor is their belief the stone is already removed
Enough for our doubts that cause us
To take a homeward road that circles
Into the valley of the shadow
And climbs into hills above furrowed fields
Ripening from the planting of winter wheat.
Already past midday and the broad valley
Lies in its blue haze as we debate
If all prophets are doomed then why do we
So eagerly seek those who will match Elijah’s daring,
Raise Jairus's dead daughter, wilt a tree, or walk on water?
What is it in them that we cannot find within ourselves?
What did the women see exactly?
We long for a stranger to observe and join us,
Enter our debate, warily as a thief, to give us faith,
To break our prolonged solitary brooding
With words that will burn our hearts into twilight
Recognition of him in the sacramental breaking 
Of bread and the sweet taste of wine,
That we may journey again the road from Emmaus to Jerusalem.

Poet’s Note

In late 1999, the poet Arie Staal requested that I write a poem on the subject of the road to Emmaus to be submitted to the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship’s Festival of Faith and Writing Conference. The Institute is associated with Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Beginning in 2001, the poem “Time and Time Again” was featured on the Institute’s website for one year.

“Time and Time Again”©2000 Charles van Heck (renewed ©2026)

Images:

1. Japanese Blossom ©2026 Charles van Heck
2. Sunlit opening ©2026 Charles van Heck