A Sonnet for Palm Sunday

With a side helping of spring joy

Photo by @Shell_ghostcage, royalty-free under the Pixabay licence. Say No to AI.

Hi there

It has been a gloriously sunny weekend here in the South-East of England. Though I have been EXTRA bedbound, more than my usual housebound/bedbound levels, my window has been open, and I have felt the lift in the earth’s mood due to the bold spring sunshine. I have also been inspired by the cherry blossom on the tree I can see from my window, and Joy French’s mention of a magnolia tree in her Lent posts about finding joy. I forget how barren winter is until I see the flowers again.

This morning, my husband preached a Palm Sunday sermon on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. All the gospels mention Jesus riding on the donkey, but only Luke’s version mentions the Pharisees rebuking Jesus for letting the crowd praise him as messiah and king (Luke 19:39). In response, Jesus retorted to the Pharisees,

“I tell you…if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Luke 19:39, NIVUK

What struck me about Jon’s sermon was the link he made between the crowds cheering and all of creation as a witness. In fact, creation is a greater witness than fickle people, because the crowd would be calling for Jesus’ death in a few days’ time.

“Palm Sunday must lead to Good Friday, and there is an inevitability to it because this is what all creation has been leading up to… The crowds shout because they have no choice, they are simply the last link in the chain of creation that exists to bring glory to God.”

- Jon Marlow

All of the earth, even rocks and stones, were bursting to proclaim to the universe that Jesus was God incarnate, the King who would come to save us. Even today, Romans tells us that “the creation waits in eager expectation” for Christ’s return (Romans 8:19). Does that include bursting buds and cherry blossom?

I distilled these ponderings into a poem, which I share with you today below. What inspires you about spring and/ or Palm Sunday?

Image by Couleur from Pixabay - royalty-free under Pixabay licence

At Last

The darkness breaks; released from winter's thrall,

Magnolia flowers, shaped like cupping hands,

With white and blushing petals, hear the call

Of softest light and warmth throughout the lands,

And like a bride who runs towards her groom,

Or daffodils proclaiming hope is near,

Or baby pushing through the darkened womb,

Creation knows the wait is done. The cheer

Goes up through blackbird's song and pigeon's coo,

The leaves, like tambourines, applaud and shake.

They point beyond the season: something new

Will slap my longing soul and heart awake.

Upon a donkey rides the glorious King,

The trees and rocks cry out: He comes like spring.

© Tanya Marlow 13 April 2025.

All rights reserved.

Permission is granted to read it aloud in full - with attribution - in church services or similar gatherings, but not reproduced in text (or turned into a meme) without express permission from the author.