Take My Yoke Upon You: 4 poems by Peter Venable

image by palmettophoto1, on Pixabay, modified

Take My Yoke Upon You

Chapel basement. Volunteers seated.

Inmates streamed down the old staircase,

loaded up with cakes and coffee,

homed like pigeons to tables where we

greeted, shook hands, knuckle bumped.

New and frayed Bibles held.

The Chaplain said,

“Yoke fellows: tonight’s prompt is

share one of your spiritual tattoos,

what it means and why is it there?”

Many sleeve tattoos were shown.

One displayed Christ’s face, crown

of thorns with black blood draining

to the verse below but confessed he pierced

and desecrated them by many needle tracks.

“They became dark blurs. Used even in prison.

Sent to the hole for a month, hid a stash. Lights out

heard a soundless voice What are you doing?

Turn around. Felt dirty. Filthy. Easter Sunday

was in a few days. Flushed the rest and that was it.

Two years clean.”

Another claimed now his tats protected him.

“They didn’t do much good back in the day, did they?

Tattoos are only skin deep, bro.” One spoke,

“Let Jesus into your heart. Worked for me.”

Curfew call. Prayers offered.

They ascended the stairway to heaven

and we, rapt in wonder, filed out                        

to our cars and drove home in silence.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle

and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).

                                       *

God’s Alchemy     

Christ’s blood transforms…         

The blackest sin

to purest white

From darkest depths

to soaring heights

Bursts forth the dawn

from deepest night     

Turns shaded eyes

into Christ’s light.

As flowers bloom

through pupils’ blight

Follow his way

as doubts take flight

Shun Satan’s lies

with faith and fight

Help weakest souls

gain godly might.

So, swerve from wrong

and walk towards right.

The day has dimmed.

Almost twilight.     

Jesus is near.

Heaven’s in sight.                                   

Transcendent And Immanent

Your throne is above me.

Beyond the blue and night sky.

Beyond what telescopes can see.

Beyond even infinity.

And yet your Presence’s near.

Your Spirit’s in my soul.

Your care for me is clear.

You heal and make me whole.

Upright

   About a law-abiding life? I’m sure.

I mean, I’m not the type of guy to boast.       

I do not claim my fantasies are pure,

But I’m not haunted by any ghosts.  

   I rarely let my temper spark and flare.

When I dine out, I leave a hefty tip.

For what it’s worth, each month I tithe my share

And once was asked to shepherd stewardship.

   But as I ponder Jesus’ life and death,

Let Him expose the pretense of my life,

Absorb the words before His final breaths—

He cuts my hubris through with His keen knife.         

   I strive to let Him crucify my pride

   And in my life, I’ll follow Him—my guide.

_______________________________________

Peter Venable has written sacred and Christian verse for many decades. He’s appeared in Ancient Paths, Amethyst Review, Calvary Cross, The Windhover, Prairie Messenger, The Christian Century, The Merton Seasonal, Ekstasis, Foreshadow, As Surely As The Sun, and others. He is a septuagenarian, happily married, “Poppy” to two granddaughters, a Christ follower, and volunteers at a prison camp. His ‘Jesus Through A Poet’s Lens’ is available at Amazon. He is at: petercvenable.wordpress.com and www.facebook.com/peter.venable.14

September 2025 issue