Gethsemane

This poem by Mary Oliver considers how the sleeping disciples, like Judas at the Last Supper, are integral to the story of Christ.  After reading the poem (perhaps more than once), Consider: How does Oliver portray the created world? How does she portray the disciples?  Though never mentioned in the poem, how does she portray Christ? Allow the beauty and simplicity of the words to slowly permeate your understanding of this poignant scene. 

by Mary Oliver

The grass never sleeps.
Or the roses.
Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until morning.
Jesus said, wait with me. But the disciples slept.
The cricket has such splendid fringe on its feet,
and it sings, have you noticed, with its whole body,
and heaven knows if it ever sleeps.
Jesus said, wait with me. And maybe the stars did, maybe the wind wound itself
into a silver tree, and didn't move, maybe
the lake far away, where once he walked as on a
blue pavement,
lay still and waited, wild awake.
Oh the dear bodies, slumped and eye-shut, that could not
keep that vigil, how they must have wept,
so utterly human, knowing this too
must be a part of the story.