Cost of Rebirth
Consider the egg
how it hides life
within a calcium cocoon
protects and nourishes
the chick within
until too large
restless and strong
pecks free
destroys its home
egg now mere shell
of former self
becomes nest detritus
Consider the egg
how it sustains life
surrenders to boil, scramble
stir, whip, mix
while we gain strength
from eating deviled
baked in cake
or drunk in nog
egg disappears
into our very DNA
of course we throw
the shells away
© 2011 by V. Nesdoly
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This week Christians celebrate two of the biggest events in the church year. On Friday we remember Jesus’ death. On Sunday we celebrate His resurrection. The Sunday just past (April 17th) was Palm Sunday. One version of that story is told in John 12:12-16.
In that same chapter of John, Jesus refers to His death in a little metaphor: “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain.” The cost of rebirth.
Joanne Giesbrecht, a Calgary artist, painted the watercolour “Beauty in Brokenness.” View more of her work at JoanneGiesbrecht.com. She also blogs about her artistic process at http://thistledown-arts.blogspot.com
This poem is linked at One Shot Wednesday Week 42
This poem is also linked at Faith Barista (where you will find many more posts about Easter.)
Violet Nesdoly 
Violet, I like this poem very much, the matter-of-fact tone that opens each stanza, the imagery (“within a calcium cocoon” — lovely!), and especially the concluding lines of the second stanza. You’ve complemented it beautifully with the watercolor.
I posted last night a poem for Holy Week. It’s called “Nard” and is in the Shadorma form, which I like using.
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nice…we tend to throw off our shells as well when we let that which resides inside find its way out…
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Well, isn’t that lovely!! All the world’s an egg and the men and women entering and exiting from the omelettes of time. (sorry, not quite as eloquent as yours.) 🙂
one Shot Wednesday –whoooohooooo.
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Interesting analogy that is fitting for the week. I enjoyed it very much. 🙂
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An ode to the under-appreciated egg shell cast off by both those who are protected and nourished by it. Always a price to pay somewhere…clever stuff. Vb
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Beautiful analogy on God’s economy! We are either walking on eggshells or throwing them away! I always appreciate how the egg, when first broken open, looks so much like a sunrise.
“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen!”
Mark 16:6
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I like the comparison made by the two stanzas and the identical finality of the destruction of the egg. You also have a lot of great language there.
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It’s always great to come out of those shells; for birds, chickens, and us. Then we can get on with it… 🙂
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Good imagery, and a commonality in the endings.. very poignant write up this 🙂 I loved it very much!
My One Shot
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