Countee Cullen was a noted poet from New York.
John Fredrick Nims relates, “As Christ was being led to the crucifixion, ‘they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.'” Cyrene was an African coastal town on the Mediterranean.
“But He was dying for a dream.” Simon’s role helped enable the crucifixion which in turn allowed the resurrection to come about; death overcome.
Strong stuff. Simon carried the physical cross which later became Christianity’s most powerful and important symbol.
Simon the Cyrenian Speaks
by Countee Cullen (1903 – 1946)
He never spoke a word to me,
And yet He called my name;
He never gave a sign to me,
And yet I knew and came.
At first I said, “I will not bear
His cross upon my back;
He only seeks to place it there
Because my skin is black.”
But He was dying for a dream,
And He was very meek,
And in His eyes there shone a gleam
Men journey far to seek.
It was Himself my pity bought;
I did for Christ alone
What all of Rome could not have wrought
With bruise of lash or stone.
