Defiant hope

Haiku of encouragement

City under siege,

Jerusalem, holding out

against Babylon.

Not much point, really.

The city must fall: judgement

for the people's sin.

Incarcerated:

the prophet Jeremiah,

guilty of treason.

His words of judgement

don't mesh with the narrative

of those in power.

The cousin arrives,

Keep it in the family,

he said, Buy my field.

Fiscal foolishness!

Buying land when you're facing

imminent ruin.

He purchased the field:

Jeremiah's defiant

gesture of promise.

Here, store these sealed deeds

in an earthenware jar, safe

against the future.

Some day, in this land,

houses, fields, vineyards. once more

will be bought and sold.

A symbolic act,

but more; a display of hope

in God's promises.

© Ken Rookes 2022