Esther

Haiku of creative courage

A beautiful girl

captivates a king, becomes

Queen. No real power.

Hatred-filled Haman

plots against the Jews; the King’s

tricked into helping.

Esther is alarmed,

sends word to Mordecai: ask

my people to pray.

Not just a pretty

face, Esther is resourceful,

brave. Hatches a plan.

At Queen Esther’s feast

Haman and King make merry,

the King is well pleased.

What are you asking,

Queen Esther? It shall be yours;

take half my kingdom!

She tells of the plot

to kill her people. That means

I must die with them.

The King is angry.

Who has done this? Esther waves,

There he sits: Haman!

A servant points out

gallows built for Mordecai,

whose word saved the King.

Hang him, the King said,

on those gallows! (Poetic!)

Then the King calmed down.

Faithful Mordecai,

keeps records, sends out letters:

celebrate these days!

This sorrow-filled month

has become glad; share your food,

remember the poor.

© Ken Rookes 2024

Royal Wedding

 

Haiku of failed RSVPs

Stories that provoke

and challenge entitlement,

making leaders squirm

A wedding banquet.

The invitations are sent.

No one wants to come.

Look, a second chance!

The servants go out again

to call in the guests.

It all turns ugly

with disturbing violence;

inexplicable.

The king is enraged,

understandably. Sends troops

to exact justice.

Here’s the new order:

all sorts of common people

called to the banquet.

The good and the bad;

all are called, all invited

to this wedding feast.

Postscript.

A strange conclusion

to a strange story: make sure

you’re properly dressed.

© Ken Rookes 2020