Out of the whirlwind

Haiku of continued questions

At last God responds!

Hides God-self in a whirlwind;

very dramatic.

Questions, not answers.

God’s grandeur seems to excuse

him from answering

God holds all the cards,

suggests that Job is unwise

to ask such questions.

Make yourself ready

Job, almighty God’s about

to ask you questions.

God asks: Where were you

when I laid the foundations

of the earth? Tell me!

Who measured the earth

making sure all was in line?

Surely you know this?

Did you hear the stars

singing for joy when the world’s

cornerstone was laid?

We are impressed, God.

Hardly a fair contest, though;

you being divine!

Ken Rookes 2024

Why me, God?

 

Why me, God?

Haiku seeking answers

He hasn’t cursed God,

but Job doesn’t hold back in

voicing his complaint.

It’s simply not fair;

I’ve done nothing wrong, I don’t

deserve this treatment.

Why is God hiding?

I want to argue my case,

hear what he would say.

I keep asking, Why?

I am upright, tell me, God,

why I must suffer.

God holds all the cards.

If he listened to me he’d

find me innocent.

But I can’t find God.

I look front, back, left and right;

I cannot see him!

I have had enough!

My heart faints. Let me vanish

into the darkness.

Ken Rookes 2024

Under attack

Christianity is under attack! they cry.

I respond inwardly, keeping my thoughts to myself.

Good! It has been ever so,

or at least, it should have been.

I will join in the attack,

there is so much that denies the kingdom,

so much that despises the words

that we declare came from the carpenter’s lips.

He was up-front with his followers,

told how he would suffer, be put to death

for the words he spoke, the things he did.

Said they could expect the same.

We are frightened

watching with alarm as the privileges of our glorious past

are challenged and slowly stripped away.

This cannot be God’s will! Surely this is not right!

But, perhaps it is right;

maybe it is God’s will. When all else is removed;

when what remains of Christianity

is love, bleeding and incarnate,

then we might be said to have arrived

at the gates of the kingdom,

and we should have cause to rejoice.

Ken Rookes 2024

Job

Haiku for testing

Wealth and possessions

have long been seen as proof of

a virtuous life.

Surely God blesses

the ones who are deserving!

Yes, but not always.

The poor are not blessed;

their poverty evidence

of their shortcomings.

The story of Job,

written to challenge. The good

don’t always prosper.

In the land of Uz,

so the ancient tale goes; lived

Job, a righteous man.

Blameless and upright,

bulk money, stacks of children;

Job had a good life.

God boasts about Job.

Satan calls his bluff. Test him;

let’s see what he does!

In but a moment

it is gone. Taken away,

the blessings withdrawn.

Job remains faithful.

God boasts again. Satan laughs;

I’ll really test him!

Satan inflicts Job

with sores from head to toe. Let’s

see what he says, now!

Job’s wife speaks to him:

Enough! It is surely time

to curse God and die!

Job replies:

The good we receive

comes from God, surely we must

accept the bad, too.

© Ken Rookes 2020, 24

Esther

Haiku of creative courage

A beautiful girl

captivates a king, becomes

Queen. No real power.

Hatred-filled Haman

plots against the Jews; the King’s

tricked into helping.

Esther is alarmed,

sends word to Mordecai: ask

my people to pray.

Not just a pretty

face, Esther is resourceful,

brave. Hatches a plan.

At Queen Esther’s feast

Haman and King make merry,

the King is well pleased.

What are you asking,

Queen Esther? It shall be yours;

take half my kingdom!

She tells of the plot

to kill her people. That means

I must die with them.

The King is angry.

Who has done this? Esther waves,

There he sits: Haman!

A servant points out

gallows built for Mordecai,

whose word saved the King.

Hang him, the King said,

on those gallows! (Poetic!)

Then the King calmed down.

Faithful Mordecai,

keeps records, sends out letters:

celebrate these days!

This sorrow-filled month

has become glad; share your food,

remember the poor.

© Ken Rookes 2024

A capable wife

Haiku of exceptional virtue

Celebration of

womanhood. The bar is high,

some find it daunting.

No mere appendage,

this woman is capable,

independent, too.

She is resourceful,

skilful, does ev’rything – more

– that a man might do

This amazing wife

never rests, organises

her house with aplomb.

Filled with charity,

industrious, making warm

clothes for her household.

At the city gates

her husband is found, sitting

among the elders.

This woman is strong.

She is clothed in dignity,

kindness and wisdom.

Blessed by her children

and praised by her husband: You

surpass all women!

Charm is deceitful,

beauty passes; she who fears

God is to be praised.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Wisdom calls

 

Haiku for the wise

Calling in the street,

Wisdom cries out for wisdom,

‘stead of ignorance.

How long will they choose

foolishness, how long will they

despise the science?

How long will they make

a virtue of ignorance;

taking pride in it?

I stretched out my hand,

says wisdom, to offer you

counsel; you refused.

Disaster awaits

you, but you have made your choice.

I’ll laugh at your plight.

Calamity comes,

and they’ll call to me for help;

but I’ll ignore them.

They chose ignorance

over the fear of the Lord.

Such stupidity!

They have rejected

Wisdom’s counsel; let them eat

Futility’s fruit.

They have turned away

from God’s wisdom to the path

of death, destruction.

But those who listen

to Wisdom will be secure,

finding peace, not fear.

© Ken Rookes 2024

A good name

 

Haiku of reputation and regard

Is a good name still

better than riches, in this

get-all-you-can world?

To have little wealth

but a good reputation;

I hope I’d choose that.

To have good regard;

better than silver or gold?

Not all would concur.

The rich and the poor

owe their existence to God.

Remind them of that!

Those who are unjust,

will reap the consequences

of their perfidy.

Generous people

will find blessing as they share

their bread with the poor.

God watches over

the poor; you who exploit them

will be made to pay.

……………………………………….

Reputations don’t

seem to matter much these days,

bad people still rule.

© Ken Rookes 2024

A song of love

Haiku for Spring

Springtime rhapsody,

the name of this love poem

here, in my bible.

Look! A young stag bounds

leaping mountains; imaging

masculinity.

The stag stands beyond

the wall, gazing at windows,

entranced by the view.

My beloved speaks

his invitation: Arise

my love, come with me!

The winter retreats,

withdrawing its rain; flowers

emerge from the earth.

Listen to the birds!

The fig tree produces fruit,

fecundity rules!

Fragrant vines blossom.

They call: Arise my fair one,

my love; come away!

© Ken Rookes 2024

Solomon prays

Haiku for a dedication

Solomon offers

his prayer of dedication

having built God’s house.

Before God’s altar

in the presence of Israel,

the King spread his hands.

There is none like you,

Lord, in heaven or on earth;

keeping your promise.

You told my father,

David, that his successors

would sit on his throne.

God, you dwell on earth

by grace; we don’t imagine

this house contains you.

Hear my prayer, O Lord,

watch over this house, hear us;

listen and forgive.

When foreigners come

and offer prayers in this place,

listen to them, too.

All people of earth

shall know your name and fear you,

coming here to pray.

© Ken Rookes 2024