Announcement

 

Haiku of surprise

Angel Gabriel

finds himself in Nazareth

talking to a girl.

Her name was Mary,

engaged to marry Joseph

of King David’s line.

Greetings, favoured one,

said the messenger from God.

The Lord is with you.

Do not be afraid.

You will conceive, bear a son,

and call him Jesus.

Destined for greatness,

he’ll sit upon David’s throne,

he’ll reign forever

This cannot happen;

I’ve never been with a man.

The Lord will do it.

What say you, Mary?

It’s a most daunting prospect;

are you up for it?

I’m here, said Mary,

God’s servant. Let it happen

to me as you say.

© Ken Rookes 2023

Annunciation

 

Improbable Haiku

Annunciation;

a big word for an event

cloaked in mystery.

What really happened?

Only sceptics such as me

would ask that question.

Greetings, favoured one!

The angel addresses her,

claims her attention.

The girl, young, awestruck

by news of a pregnancy.

How would I respond?

How can these things be?

The girl has not known a man;

it’s not possible.

Ah, the story goes;

you will be overshadowed

by the Most High God.

You’ll have a baby.

You will call the child Jesus;

he will be God’s Son.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Scenario

Like a scene from a carefully crafted play,

the angel messenger from above,

an apparition in glowing white

given the name of Gabriel,

passes uninvited through the door

(enter stage left), and approaches

the girl. The wardrobe department

has also dressed her in white,

for reasons which will become apparent.

It is a contest in whiteness.

The heavenly envoy tells the girl not to fear,

that she will give birth

to a Child of Light;

one who, when the stage lights are dimmed

for the penultimate scene,

will continue to shine

for all humankind.

The girl protests the improbability

of such a scenario;

she has not known a man.

She is told that the script for the second act

has already been written.

A divine spark

will overturn the laws of biology

when she is overshadowed

by a mysterious spirit something;

she has only to accept the role.

She does, without actually seeing the script,

thus allowing the rest of the drama

to proceed to its unpredicted ending.

© Ken Rookes 2014.