Martyr

The problem I have with Jesus
is that he failed
as I fail every day.
And he failed grandly!

Didn’t even have to say he was sorry,
any pain he caused
was simply taken for granted.

They nailed his success to a cross.

Even I despair
that the righteous of the world are so feeble.
What most I fear
is the continuing pattern of loss.

As a child I heard
of lions and martyrs and saints
and was left to dream
of becoming myself a martyr.

All I’ve become,
instead, is simple failure.
Only that makes me like Jesus:
my need to fail.