A Curious Poem For Good Friday

This very interesting poem, called "Curious Piece of Antiquity, on the Crucifixion of our Saviour and the two Thieves" can be found on page 51 of The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Queer, the Quaint and the Quizzical by Frank H. Stauffer

EXPLANATION

The middle cross represents our Saviour; those on either side, the two thieves. On the top and down the middle cross are our Saviour's expression, "My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken me?" and on the top of the cross is the Latin inscription "INRI"—Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judæorum, i. e. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Upon the cross on the right-hand is the prayer of one of the thieves:—"Lord! remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." On the left-hand cross is the saying, or reproach, of the other: "If thou beest the Christ, save thyself and us." The whole, comprised together, makes a piece of excellent poetry, which is to be read across all the columns, and makes as many lines as there are letters in the alphabet. It is perhaps one of the most curious pieces of composition to be found on record.

Five years ago today: Commonplace