A Villanelle
based on Revelation 21:2-4 “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

When the holy city descends from the skies
And the dingy blanches before brilliant white,
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

The tears of sadness, regret, shame, and lies
Wet no longer those standing upon Zion’s height
When the holy city descends from the skies.

In the heavy crush of holy, death now dies;
Preserved through the shadow of that dark night
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

In consummated glory, every creature cries,
“Worthy is the Lamb! Irresistible His might!”
When the holy city descends from the skies.

And for those who in weakness did not despise
But bore graciously every wounding and slight
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

And beholding in joy where time no longer flies,
Our earth-born blindness shall give way to sight
When the holy city descends from the skies
And He wipes every tear from our eyes.

(c) Randy Edwards
Artwork: detail of the revelation of the heavenly Jerusalem to St John, Add MS 42555, f. 79v