if he had spoken

no one asked him . . .

not the chief priest
or his bought judges,
though
fear would
have deafened them;

not the governor,
balancing
political options
on
his decision;

not the mob:
pockets full of nightmares,
stomachs full of poverty,
voices brimming with bile
no goodness or mercy
flowing over
in their cupped hands;

no one asked him
(but don't you think)

Jesus himself
would have said
(maybe he whispered it
to himself):

give them Barabbas!

(c) 2001 Thom M. Shuman