An understanding mind

 Haiku for a succession

David’s reign ended

with his death; he was buried

in Jerusalem.

His rule had been long,

forty years in all. His reign

brought stability.

Solomon followed

David as king.. We are told

that he loved the Lord.

Seeking God’s favour,

Solomon burns incense, makes

many offerings.

God speaks in a dream.

What do you ask of me, now

that you reign as king?

Solomon answers:

You were good to my father;

look upon my youth.

I would rule wisely

and govern well; grant me an

understanding mind.

The Lord is well pleased.

You asked for wisdom; granted,

you’ll have it in spades.

As well a wisdom

I’ll give you honour and wealth;

there’ll be none like you.

I’ll give you long life,

too, if you walk in my ways,

like your father did.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Heaven's gate

Haiku of unexpected presence

Jacob’s off, leaving

 

his troubles behind; fleeing

 

north towards Haran.

 

Resting overnight,

 

with a stone for a pillow;

 

Jacob is dreaming.

 

A ladder reaches

 

from the earth to the heavens;

 

angels climb, descend.

 

God stands beside him,

 

It is I, your fathers’ God;

 

I give you this land.

 

Your offspring will be

 

like earth’s dust; through your children

 

all earth shall be blessed.

 

I will be with you,

 

keep you in my care, and bring

 

you back to this land.

 

The dream is ended.

 

Jacob speaks: The Lord is here;

 

I did not know it!

 

Awesome! says Jacob.

 

This place is the house of God,

 

the gate of heaven!

 

Setting his pillow-

 

stone up as a pillar, Jake

 

names the place, “Bethel.”

© Ken Rookes 2023

 

Let's get married

Let’s get married

The nightmares of recent weeks
did not retreat with the decision
to allow his betrothed
to leave quietly, and have the child
in a far place among distant relatives.
There the shame
would not be so bitter.
the girl was young and pretty,
and would soon find a new husband,
and a father for her child.
The pain of her apparent rejection
was sharpened by the love
still twisting the stomach
of the gentle carpenter,
who had toiled with mallet
and chisel for many years
so that he might take a wife.
He had not seen it coming;
refused to believe it
until the swelling evidence
could no longer be denied.
So, when, in a dream, the angel
spoke of the strange purposes
of an even stranger God,
Joseph grabbed the offered straw.
Copping the nudges and the sneers,
he took Mary home to be his wife.

© Ken Rookes

How many?

How many?

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.

In a similar manner

do messiahs,

heroes, battlers,

has-beens and failures

begin their living.

A young woman,

barely pubescent,

finds herself expecting a child.

The man is surprised;

the man is always surprised.

A decision is needed.

The responsible thing,

the correct thing.

The ennobling thing,

the loving thing.

How many?

How many angels

will be needed

for the man to be persuaded

to do the right thing?

And how many tears,

Both of joy and sorrow,

will be shed on the journey

to marriage, the birthing place,

and beyond.

© Ken Rookes 2013