Ode to the Silent Witness

Near the cross where the world's grief was unfurled,
A silent sentinel, stoic and strong,
The tree that bore the weight of our salvation,
In its embrace, the promise of a new dawn.

Oh, wooden frame of sorrow and of grace,
Where divine love and sacrifice did meet,
Where the heavens wept and the earth did tremble,
Where the sins of a world were laid so complete.

In the shadow of your outstretched limbs,
The Son of God did breathe his final sigh,
A crimson cloak of innocence draped,
The ultimate gift from the boundless sky.

You, the silent witness to the ultimate cost,
As the nails pierced through the flesh of the One,
Whose love surpasses our understanding,
Whose mercy and forgiveness are never outdone.

The sun and moon held their light in awe,
As the Savior's life did slowly ebb,
The stars in the heavens did dimly bow,
To the tree that bore the heaviest web.

Near the cross, where hope and despair kissed,
Where the veil between heaven and earth grew thin,
You stood tall, a symbol of enduring might,
As the battle for souls was being won.

With each drop of blood, a crimson tear,
That stained your grains and soaked the ground,
The debt of the world was paid in full,
And darkness had to yield its crown.

O, mighty tree of Calvary's hill,
Your silent story speaks of love so deep,
Where the sinner's hope was crucified,
And from the tomb, the victor did leap.

Through you, the path of redemption was paved,
The bridge between God and man was made,
With every breath of agony you saved,
The promise of life beyond the grave.

Now, in churches and chapels, you stand,
Carved and crafted, a symbol of the divine,
A reminder of the ultimate sacrifice,
The price paid for the lost to be found.

May we never forget your silent cry,
Near the cross, where love did conquer fear,
Where the world was forever changed,
And grace did rain down so sinners might be clear.

Let your form, stark and unyielding,
Inspire us to bear our own cross,
To walk the path of sacrifice and love,
Where salvation's sweet victory did appear.

Near the cross, we find our strength and hope,
Where the divine did embrace the mundane,
In your embrace, our redemption was wrought,
O tree, forever our hearts will proclaim.