his, no ordinary life
gaze on him too long—he vanishes like a star
he lives the truth, lives it slant
his, no ordinary death
flashing in the east, seen in the west—like lightning
the son goes glorious, silent
where be we when he’s called home
resting abed—grinding the corn—sowing the field
or warming hands round a fire
Not long before Jesus leads his disciples into Jerusalem for the final visit, he tells them about the unexpected advent of the Kingdom. Peter reflects on the extraordinary ordinariness of his master’s life and coming death — and the ordinary things in which the disciples might be engaged when the Son of Man appears in glory. Insight that is nonetheless off the mark, as it must be given the subject matter, and a foreshadowing.
Peter writes here in one of his favored forms: Hebeku, if you will, three stanzas of 7/12/7 syllables.