by Pat Severin

She came with friends, her tears still streaming,
“My Master's gone! Wish I was dreaming.”
She carried fragrant oils that day
to show her love, the only way.
 
For He was gone, how could she cope?
Forever gone, no room for hope.
His words alone could fill her cup,
without Him... tears kept welling up.
 
Her goal in view, she started running,
“My Lord,” she cried, “My Lord, I’m coming!”
As she approached asked, “Where’s the stone?”
Faster now, got there alone...
 
Then shocked, bewildered, “This can’t be!
An empty tomb! I’ve got to see!"
What Mary saw forced her to hurry
to tell His friends, consumed with worry.
 
But they could not believe her words!
What Mary said was so absurd!
But Peter came to find two men
who said, “Your Master lives again!”
 
He staggered from the tomb unhinged.
It felt as if his though his soul was singed!
Then asked himself, “Could this be true?”
and in that moment faith withdrew.
 
Still overcome within her grief
and wanting so to find relief,
sweet Mary to the tomb returned
confused by everything she’d learned.
 
The man she saw she thought must be
the gardener, she asked him, “Please,
if you have taken Him away,
please tell me where His body lay!”
 
His answer in response just this,
her name he spoke and in her bliss,
She knew at once it was her Lord,
her Master whom she so adored.
 
The joy she felt within her heart
was not contained, not even part.
What lie ahead, her Lord had said
yet only grasped that He’d be dead.
 
But now, His words came into view,
she knew He was the Savior true.
Like Mary may we see this clearly,
That God, our Father loves us dearly!
 
He sent His Son to take our place,
did so for all the human race!
And when He rose, He set us free
to live again eternally.

Pat Severin is a retired Christian school teacher who serves her Lord in many ways. These have included school, church and teen ministries and her current personal ministry of creating cards that include her original poems of encouragement. These she sends out weekly to those going through difficult life struggles. 

In addition to her Christian poetry contributions to the Agape Review, she has been published in the Clay Jar Review, Thewayback2ourselves, and Pure in Heart Stories, which features Christian poetry and stories for children. She has been published in many of the Southern Arizona Press Anthologies, in the book called I Chose You: Imperfectly Perfect Rescue Dogs and their Humans and will be featured in the upcoming book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons I Learned from My Dog. Pat is a member of SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book writers and Illustrators.