The Death of Christ: Sestina

My brother and I were paralyzed with intense fear
After I desperately strained and stretched to catch
The basketball thrown by my stupid brother (in the living room);
But my attempts failed miserably and the ball hit the shelf
Disturbing no other breakable figurine displayed but Jesus
Brother and I watched with gaping mouths as He descended.

I prayed He would perform a miracle and take flight; but He descended.
Perspiration formed in every part of my body for we were both in fear.
We violated Ephesians 6:1-3; shortening our lives plus dishonored Jesus!
Brother accused with tearful eyes “man, it was your dumb idea to play catch.”
I defended my now, short life, “Man your wild hands threw it near the shelf!”
I looked around knowing that this was the last time I’d see this living room.

Brother sighed prophesizing, “You know we gon die here in this living room.”
Maybe we could fix him! But the garage door opened and our hopes descended.
We could say we didn’t know how it fell…”Hey grab the ball from near the shelf!”
Petrified that fool of a brother stood still succumbed with fear.
Gah! I cannot dare tell Mama that me and Ali were playin’ catch.
Maybe I can console her and tell her He’ll arise in three….”Jesus!!!”

Ma screamed when she saw our sovereign, dear, black and cracked Jesus.
He lay dismembered, disfigured, persecuted on the floor of the living room.
Her burning eyes saw the ball, “Y’all hard heads were playing catch?”
She walked to her room and we heard the belt as it easily descended
Off of its hanging spot. Brother and I exploded in tears overwhelmed with fear.
Suddenly I desired that it was I who in fact fell in pieces from off the shelf.

Oh Jesus you work miracles even in death! Mama instead walked to the shelf.
“Y’all getting to old for this.” she bent down and began to examined poor Jesus.
I looked at my brother and he looked at me. Bewilderment over rid our fear.
While Ma was in this weird state; should I make dash out of this living room?
I thought to soon and acted to late. Ma was up and her eyes descended
on us with such a gaze that the devil would not dare to catch.

But we were the devils that caught it, and were the idiots playing catch.
I felt the chilling audience of figure’s starring (almost smiling) from the shelf.
Dang! Out off all the figures why couldn’t the clown be the one who descended?
Now, upon our deaths we would be known as the sinners who slain Jesus.
I began to sweat profusely. It seemed that hell was now our living room.
Mama gripped the belt. I prayed: Ye as I…in the shadow of…I shall fear…

I opened my eyes and to my surprise Ma was gone. Whew, Jesus!
I walked over to the broken little statue that had fallen from the shelf-
Ma yelled “Wait till yo daddy gets home.” Wait!? Brother and I took off in fear.