They Took Him Down

They took him down
From cross to cold and hewn bare stone
Iron’s music sealed the open wound
A hush fell heavy, swallowing all sound
Mercy pooled where grief met that same stone
They took him down

They took him down
They laid his hands, the pierced and quiet side
A strip of linen held the breath of dawn
The Beloved lingered while the light was gone
Love marked the place where sorrow met that side
They took him down

They took him down
The world still bears the map of every scar
A light moves through the breach like patient flame
A promise threads the torn and calls your name
We trace the mercy written in each scar
They took him down

©Steve Pape 2026