in flesh and song
Your music hums in my body, a
temple made for You.¹
In Your skin, pure and clean,
the world had worn it as You
sat with the sinners of the world.² You adorned
the crown of thrones as they pricked
Your forehead, blood trickling to
Your mouth. Yet, You still looked up
and told our Father:
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.³
Some of Your last words were
granted toward the
flesh of this world.
With His hands, he healed—turning darkness
into light. The same hands that were
pierced with nails onto a cross to be ridiculed.
He washed the feet of many—humility, service, and
most importantly… forgiveness.⁴
Your music hums in my body, a temple made
for You as Your heart continues beating
within me.
He walked the earth, pure body,
pure soul, to show the way toward
true salvation.⁵ In flesh and blood,
he chose to stay. In flesh and blood,
he was put to death to forgive the world for
their sins.⁶
Because of his efforts, I must
do the same. I must do my part,
pick up my cross daily⁷—although
it is still a struggle. I am a sinner;
we are sinners but
His music will always sway
my body;
eyes closed,
arms up to
Him.
¹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19
² While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples ~ Matthew 9:10
³ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots ~ Luke 23:34
⁴ John 13:3-17
⁵ Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” ~ John 14:6
⁶ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8
⁷ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” ~ Luke 9:23
what do you know?
about love?
love wasn’t them
believing a relationship
meant war
love wasn’t them
laying you to bed with
tear-stained cheeks
love wasn’t them
making you think
you deserved
every unlaughable laugh
every stolen smile
every abrasive action
every wicked word
until you said I’m sorry.
love was when
you were shattered but
He still reached for your hand
without expecting perfection
despite your many flaws
love was when
you felt unworthy
but He carried your shame
your silent burdens
on his shoulders
love happened when
you felt trapped
alone
isolated
abandoned
deserted
confined
hidden
stranded
but He still promised to never leave you—
when you thought there was no way out
He paved a path.
Cadence Burdwell is a Christian poet and fiction/scriptwriter based in California. Her works often explore themes of love, destruction, and reconciliation, which are deeply influenced by her faith. She is pursuing a degree in Creative Writing with a minor in Film and Television at the University of La Verne. With a passion for storytelling, Cadence is working toward a future in scriptwriting and hopes to publish her own poetry collection.