Simon The Cyrenian Speaks Poem by Countee Cullen
Simon The Cyrenian Speaks
He never spoke a word to me,
And yet He called my name;
He never gave a sign to me,
And yet I knew and came.
At first I said, "I will not bear
His cross upon my back;
He only seeks to place it there
Because my skin is black."
But He was dying for a dream,
And He was very meek,
And in His eyes there shone a gleam
Men journey far to seek.
It was Himself my pity bought;
I did for Christ alone
What all of Rome could not have wrought
With bruise of lash or stone.
Considering the experience of black Americans, the resistance Cullen puts in the mouth of of Simon in the first stanza is understandable. I wonder if Cullen had considered that Jesus himself was a person of color, not the blue-eyed blonde-haired image too common in prints. He probably looked more like an Arab, and the feeling of some in America towards Arabs is akin to the prejudice against black people. -GK
Beautifully worded, thoughtful saiid. Congratulations of TMPOTD. Good choice of Pôem Hunter Team. Thank you for sharing this piece of story based upon the Holy Bible. I have enjoyed a very lot and have read and reread again. Sure I still will in later days.
excellent thoughtful stanza - But He was dying for a dream, And He was very meek, And in His eyes there shone a gleam Men journey far to seek. great
a strength and submissive line- It was Himself my pity bought; I did for Christ alone nice
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/24/2024 3:07:38 AM # 1.0.0.1119
A wonderful poem. One of the best ever written.