Easter Bouquet 2025: The Third Day, by Grant Shimmin

Grant Shimmin is a South African-born poet living in New Zealand who prizes humanity and the natural world as themes. He has work in journals worldwide, most recently Raw Lit, Raven’s Muse Magazine, and a fine line, and soon ANTAE Journal and Soul Poetry Magazine. 

The Third Day

Night terrors slip into terrified morning

in the place we shelter, fearing discovery

The denials that brought me to tears

of desperate humiliation will do nothing

to protect me if the soldiers find this place,

but might another denial spare me the horror?

It’s funny, now that courage seems pointless,

I don’t want to do that. I want to own him,

to atone for my bitter shame…. Wait, there’s

someone at the door! It’s Mary… distraught,

she says his body is gone! It’s not possible,

is it? Though what does it matter, I’ve severed

that precious bond, feebly failed to fight for it

There’s no choice but to retreat into another

endless vigil of locked-down dread. But what

is that sweet fragrance, that light? How is that

look of love penetrating my broken soul?

I don’t know, but I do know my fear is gone

I do know I can look into His eyes without

shrinking into myself in despair and shame