Peter's Denial

It stands out a mile.
He is
one of them.
I knew
as soon as I set eyes
on him.
Thought they were
above
the rest of us;
went around,
‘doing good’;
claimed they had given up
everything
to follow their leader.
Spongers more like.
Relying on others
rather than soiling their hands.
Good down to earth jobs
now beneath them;
fishing,
carpentry,
and I heard
one of them was
a tax collector
I ask you.
Anyway
much good it had done them.
I saw
their leader
dragged in
a little while ago.
Going the way
of all self-proclaimed
saviours,
no doubt.
Didn’t even look
like a fighter.
Not like
old Barabbas.
Wow there was
a man
you could follow.
He had guts.
Shame
he had got
caught..
Weak
that’s what
this man was.
Being led
like a lamb
to the slaughter.
No fight;
no resistance;
no charisma.
Not surprising
his ‘loyal’ band
had deserted him.
All but
this specimen
sidling up to the fire,
thinking we don’t know
who he is.
Someone will
challenge him soon,
no doubt.
I’m going to keep my eye
on him.
It could get interesting.

What language!
Quite impressive really
and it was only someone
stating the obvious.
Like I said
everyone could see
he was
a Galilean.
I didn’t think
they were supposed
to swear like that.
I bet
he wouldn’t have dared
if his leader
could have seen him…

It’s no good.
I have to leave;
to get out of here.
Suddenly
I can’t stand
all the shouting;
all the insults;
all the mocking.
It’s making me feel
uneasy.

No,
to tell you the truth,
and I wouldn’t admit this
to anyone else,
I feel
uncomfortable,
unclean,
ashamed.
Yes, ashamed
of what I did;
of what I said;
of what I thought.
I need to get away;
to be alone;
to think about this.

What has happened?
You may well ask.
I was fine.
I was enjoying it all
and then
I saw
the look
the prisoner gave
his, so called,
friend.


© Kathleen Wilks