Haiku for troublemakers.
The reckless prophet,
a baptiser known as John;
trouble has found him.
A sordid story.
The stepdaughter dances. Lust
overcomes the king.
He offers her half
his kingdom. What do you want?
The baptiser’s head.
The king is sorry,
but with all the witnesses
he grants the request.
The wilderness man
is silenced; the forerunner’s
work brought to an end.
Inestimably
worthy: reckless defiance
and foolish courage.
Where are our prophets?
Are their foolish words still heard;
or are they silenced?
What would it take to
silence me? Much less, I fear,
than it took for John.
© Ken Rookes 2021
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