The Purple Rock-cress Passion

A mass of brilliant flowers hides their leaves,
their four blooms with more cruciforms collide;
the red-stained cross is placed between two thieves,
His bloody stripes hide greener life inside.

The rock-cress spring perennial violet,
first prostrate, then ascending stems appear,
like flat, nailed cross raised to its silhouette,
when violet violent Lent returns each year.

Their petalled crosses ring the rocky shelves,
this criss-crossed cruciferae family,
like blossoming Christians learn to sign themselves
and show the cross atop their church so free.

Some hosts of bread-white rock-cress flowers grow up
near wine-red buds bred to be sacrificed,
like crimson vintage in the chalice cup
with snowy wafers consecrated Christ.

So we, anonymous like this little flower,
as He, incarnate died among us here,
was resurrected by a Father's power,
will be raised like God's rock-cress are each year.

                              -- by Pete Voelz         2002