Let's call you Israel

Haiku for those who wrestle

Night time, going home.

Jacob takes wives, maids, children;

crosses Jabbok ford.

Sending them further

across the stream, Jacob stays

behind, all alone.

A stranger turns up.

They wrestle, (why wouldn’t they?)

They wrestle ‘til dawn.

The man does not win.

He is clever, strikes Jake’s hip,

dislocating it.

The man says. Let go!

Dawn breaks, and I must depart!

You must bless me first.

The man asks his name.

You will not be called Jacob.

You’ll be Israel.

Israel: God strives.

You have striven with many,

and God, and prevailed.

Name yourself, asks Jake.

Why do you ask? He answered.

Then he blessed Jacob.

I have seen God’s face

and yet have lived! Jacob named

the place, ‘Peniel.’

© Ken Rookes 2023

Peniel

Haiku of struggle

Jacob heads for home

hoping that time has softened

his brother’s anger.

Jacob is fearful.

He prays for deliverance,

hopes in God’s promise.

He hedges his bets:

sends his ample gift ahead

trying to appease.

Pausing for the night

Jacob buys time, putting off

the confrontation.

Sends the mob ahead,

waits alone. A man appears;

strange, mysterious.

Coming together

in a primeval contest,

Jacob fights the man.

They wrestle, Jacob

and the stranger. No one wins,

The sun is rising.

The man asks Jacob,

Let me go! Before I do

give me your blessing.

I’ll give you a name.

you have contended with God;

you are Israel.

Jacob understood;

he had wrestled with the Lord.

Somehow he survived!

Each of us wrestles

with the Lord in our own way;

we don’t often win.

© Ken Rookes 2019