The vine, the true.

Haiku for bearing fruit

Jesus, the true vine.

In the image of the vine

we see fruitfulness.

The vine-grower God

seeks fruit in its abundance:

living laced with love.

Pruning. Harsh image

of being made fruitful. Pain

that leads to bounty.

Find your life in me;

together we will bear fruit,

fulfil God’s purpose.

By yourself you fail.

Take my words deep within you;

You will bear much fruit.

By bearing love’s fruits

you become my disciples,

and glorify God.

If you don’t show love,

pious words count for nothing:

you’re no disciple.

© Ken Rookes 2021

To become fruitful

To become fruitful

Haiku for gardeners

Rotten stuff happens

to both good and bad people;

it’s not punishment.

When people suffer,

have empathy; don’t blame them

for imagined sins.

These words are for all;

reflect on where you’re headed,

be ready to change.

A vineyard owner

plants a fig tree, comes looking

for fruit. There is none.

Three years to produce

and still the tree is barren.

Let us get rid of it.

The gardner shows grace.

One more year, some manure

and care: Let’s see.

Always one more chance.

So our master seeks for us

to become fruitful.

The chance to bear fruit;

justice, love and hope-filled peace.

Always one more chance.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Seeds are cast

 

Seeds are cast

to lie among earth’s dust,
tiny parcels of potential;
waiting for the clouds to gather.
Tears of anguish and compassion
to water the earth.
 
Suitably awoken,
some seeds sprout,
putting forth leaves of promise.
Buds form
and open into flowers. Behold:
beauty, colour and wonder
 
to welcome insects of pollination;
the wind too.
Fruits are set,
bringing fertile anticipation,
and swelling to the generous ripeness
of maturity.
 
Then comes the harvest
and the rejoicing.
And with all this abundance,
fulfilment, kingdom,
fruitfulness, uncertainty
and hope.
 
 
 

 

© Ken Rookes 2015.