LIKE A BRIDE ADORNED

NEW JERUSALEM, THERE, UP THERE, WAITS
AS IT HAS FOR EONS, AGES, AND ETERNITY ENDLESS
WAITING, SHINING LIKE PURE GOLD, LIKE THE JEWEL
IN GOD'S CROWN
LIKE A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER BRIDEGROOM
ARRAYED IN GARMENTS OF PUREST WHITE
AND VEILED IN HOLINESS, UNTOUCHED AND SET APART
FOR HER WEDDING DAY, A DAY UNLIKE ALL OTHER DAYS
THAT EVER HAVE BEEN OR EVER WILL BE AGAIN
SHE WAITS
SOON TO DESCEND THE STAIRCASE OF THE STARS
AND MAKE HER ENTRANCE INTO THIS ATMOSPHERE
WHERE MAN ABIDES
DRESSED IN WEDDING GARMENTS, SIPPING NEW WINE
AND EATING BREAD UNMADE WITH HANDS
WAITING FOR THE MIDNIGHT CRY
AND THE VOICE OF THE BRIDEGROOM
THE INVITATIONS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT
ARRANGEMENTS ALL BEEN MADE
BY THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE
HE WAITS UNTIL THE LAST RESPONSE HAS BEEN MADE
AND THEN HE CLOSES THE DOOR AND NODS TO THE ANGEL
THE LEADER OF THE HEAVENLY ORCHESTRA
TO BEGIN TO PLAY HIS TRUMPET, LONG AND LOUD
A NEW SONG, UNHEARD BY EARTH'S INHABITANTS
AND HEAVEN'S RESIDENTS, A NEW SONG WRITTEN
BY THE PEN OF GOD FROM THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD
THE SONG OF THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDEGROOM
AND ALL THE BORN AGAIN OF EARTH
WHO WEAR THEIR WEDDING GARMENTS AND STAND WATCHING
WILL HEAR THAT HEAVENLY SONG AND THEIR HEARTS WILL
SING
AS WITH A THOUSAND TONGUES, REDEMPTION'S REFRAIN
AND WHEN, AT LAST, WITH THE TRUMPET'S VOICE STILL
RINGING
THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY "COME"
THE BORN AGAIN IN BODIES GLORIFIED AND NEW
WITH JOY UNSPEAKABLE
WILL RISE AND ENTER INTO THAT BLESSED PLACE
THAT CANNOT BE IMAGINED BY MORTAL MINDS
BUT NEVERTHELESS, WAITS, THERE, UP THERE
AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRCASE OF STARS.

by Rhonda Love Jackson
Feb 12, 2005 4 p.m.