Please excuse
the gentleman
on the middle cross
since he has had
a difficult day.
Long walk, bleeding side,
stinging palms.

             He mumbles
in a language
the Greek speaking soldiers
              beneath him
do not understand as
they loiter about
waiting for his
labored breathing
to cease
so that
they may
pull him down
bury him
then go to
their quarters
and their wine,
for the afternoon
is waning.