Elijah is taken up

Haiku for a succession

The aging prophet,

Elijah, was on the move;

Gilgal to Bethal.

He told Elisha,

Wait here. No, said his junior,

I will not leave you.

The local prophets

announce: This day your master

will depart! I know.

The action repeats.

Bethel, Jericho and Jordan;

they all have a go.

Rolling his mantle

Elijah struck the water.

The Jordan parted.

The old prophet asked

Elisha, Make a request

before I depart.

A double portion

of your spirit! That my friend

is quite a big ask.

If you can see me

as I am taken from you,

it will be granted.

Chariot, horses

of fire separated them;

and then the whirlwind.

Father, my father!

he cried, as the old prophet

ascended on high.

© Ken Rookes 2024

An unnamed slave girl

Haiku of restoration

An unnamed slave girl

speaks a word of healing hope

in a foreign land.

In Samaria,

a prophet dwells. He could cure

the master’s disease.

General Naaman

gathers his entourage, heads

south, to Israel.

With his king’s letter

he fronts Israel’s monarch,

who totally freaks.

Am I God, he asks,

to cure leprosy? Worried

he’s in for a fight.

Elisha’s informed;

sends word to the king. No probs;

send him here to me.

This man from afar

will learn that there’s a prophet

here in Israel.

Sends a message. Wash

in the Jordan, seven times;

you will be made clean.

He didn’t even

come out to see me! Naaman

is somewhat angry.

We’ve got good rivers

back at home! Take it easy,

his servants respond.

It’s a simple thing.

He told you: Wash, and be clean.

Why not have a go?

He is persuaded.

Seven times in the Jordan,

his flesh is restored.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Handing over

 

Haiku of succession

Succession planning

is a challenge. Elijah

somehow managed it.

I will not leave you

Elisha declared, when his

master’s time drew near.

Gilgal to Bethel,

then to the Jordan they went,

inseparable.

What would you have me

do for you? A double share

of your spirit, please.

As they walked and talked

a chariot descended,

fiery, between them.

Elijah ascends

in the whirlwind, Elisha

calls out: My Father!

Elisha takes up

the fallen mantle, also

the prophet’s worries.

© Ken Rookes 2002

I'm focusing on the Old Testament for a while. For a gospel response, check the archives for a similar time in 2013, 2016 or 2019