will I lay my cloak before you,

when they arrest you on olive mountain,

or pull it tighter around me,

fading into the ranks of the deserters;

will I shout

'Blessed is the one who comes

in the name of the Lord!'

when they parade you

before the authorities,

or will I tell any one - and every one - around me

I never met you in my life;

will I lay my palm branches at your feet,

as they march you to Calvary,

or use them to put more stripes

on your bloody back;

will I run behind you

when they carry you to the tomb,

or turn away

as the ashes of my hopes

are rubbed into the

wounds in my heart? ■