what must he have thought as the rooster crowed
and the memory came of words recently spoken
that he would deny not once, not twice
but thrice

certain of his devotion, upon his own his strength 
claiming he never-ever 
would falter…

…but then the rooster crowed 
when faced with mortal fear, alone

and failure 
pierced his soul

then he fled away to weep 
humanity confirmed
needy, broken, fragile heart 
(like yours, like mine)
now seen…

yet later, as ‘the rock’ he would become  
he admitted his blind spots
was open to change  

since the crux of his pride tearfully
painfully  
	unforgettably 
washed away 

on the night of his deepest shame

	--our biggest failings often lead 
   to our greatest strengths

heather pound 2025

Photo by Marco J Haenssgen on Unsplash