Monday, October 24, 2016

Here in Jericho


Haiku of generosity

Here in Jericho,
where the famed battle was fought,
other contests rage.

The tax-collector
climbs a sycamore's branches
for a better view.

The teacher invites
himself to the sinner's house;
he should know better.

The mean in spirit
call out generosity
shown to the worthless.

To this house: grace, hope,
salvation and life. He, too,
is a child of God.

The Son of Man came
to seek out those who struggle,
to befriend the lost.

© Ken Rookes 2016



and here's a golden oldie . . .  

 

The Bonsai Man


Zacchaeus the bonsai man,
growing stunted and gnarled;
his roots bound and starved
of human respect and affection.

Until the gardener looks up
into the twisted branches
of another tree, sees him,
calls him friend,

uproots him from the cruel pot
of judgement and derision
and offers him a plot
in the field of God’s kingdom.

There he can grow as God intends;
with space to send roots deep
into love, to stretch out his limbs,
and to be made fruitful.
 
 
© Ken Rookes

No comments:

The boy, Samuel

Haiku of childhood Like sending your kids to boarding school, Samuel was sent to Eli. A linen ephod, the humble uniform worn by bo...