My Cross
Asthma like the Jews
But I am as innocent as a lamb
“What wrong has he done?”
“I find no wrong in him.”
“Crucify him, crucify him!” they shouted
Ordered soldiers to whip me
My breathing is stifling me
If I must breathe to stay alive
Then let me die
Soldiers took a cloak as red as blood
And covered me
With thorns they crowned my head
A reed in my right hand they shouted
“King of the people”
Stuck me on my crown with reed
Knelt down pretending to pay respects
My breathing is stifling me
If I must breathe to stay alive
Then let me die
“I cannot find any wrong in him”
“If you let him go you are no friend of the emperors”
Hence, I’m sentenced to death
Turned over to be crucified
My breathing is stifling me
If I must breathe to stay alive
Then let me die
On the way to Golgotha
Simon helped me
To carry my burden
Followed by a sea of people
Those who cried for me
Those who pitied me
“Do not shed tears for me
Rain the tears for yourselves and children”
My breathing is stifling me
If I must breathe to stay alive
Then let me die
The place of the skull
Asthma has sentenced me
Crucified with others, one on the right,
One on the left
Nails pierced my skin like light through darkness
The spear at my side dug through my flesh
“Father, forgive them, they do not know what
They are doing”
Soldiers shared my clothes among themselves
The crowd watched like stars sight-seeing earth
Words they roared
“He saved others, let him save himself is he is
The chosen One!”
My breathing is stifling me
If I must breathe to stay alive
Then let me die
One robber said, “If you are the One, save yourself
And us too!”
The other, “Are you not ashamed?
We are here quite rightly due to our crimes,
But he has done nothing wrong.”
He said, “Remember me when you come back
To reign”
“I promise you that before today is over you will
Be with me in paradise”
My breathing is stifling me
If I must breathe to stay alive
Then let me die
Midday darkness moved like a worm on the land
“I am thirsty”
A soldier gave me a sponge soaked in vinegar
I uttered a loud cry
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”
And I died
My breathing has stifled me
If to breathe was to stay alive
Then I lived no more
“Dedicated to those suffering from asthma”