Incognito

Haiku for staying uninvolved

Jesus headed north

to foreign parts, seeking rest.

Tell no one I’m here.

The word got around.

A woman came to see him;

her daughter was ill.

She was a Gentile

with no claim on this Hebrew,

except that of love.

Come and heal my child,

cast the demon out of her,

give her back to me.

No, it is not right.

My food is for the children,

it’s not for the dogs.

Not fair! She replied.

The dogs under the table

get the scraps that fall.

He must think again,

enlarge his understandings

and respond with love.

That’s a great answer!

Quite right, you can go home now,

your daughter is freed.

© Ken Rookes 2018