Uluru Statement from the heart

 

Heirarchies of honour

Haiku for the humble

We all observe them,

the heirarchies of honour

that show our status.

Do not be troubled

by lists of significance

and where you fit in.

Simply be yourself,

unconcerned about status.

Honour comes and goes.

Be humble, accept

whatever God allots you,

God will exalt you.

Don’t invite your friends,

your brethren or rich neighbours:

they will pay you back.

Learn to be gen’rous.

Give to those who can’t pay back,

and make them welcome.

Share with the cripple,

the poor, the blind and the lame;

they can’t repay you.

Generosity

is its own blessing: be blest

as you share your love.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Love your enemies

Impossible haiku

Love your enemies:

surely the most laughable

of all his commands.

Easily dismissed

when fear is cultivated

to harvest power.

The title, ‘Christian,’

becomes robbed of its meaning

by those who must hate.

Bless those who curse you,

pray for those who abuse you.

More futile commands.

Even bad people

love those who return their love;

be better than that.

Would you follow him;

this man who insists on love

ahead of all else?

Real love is one-way,

not a bargain or a deal,

expects no return.

Generous, like God,

love is extended to all;

you don’t pick and choose.

Don’t be judgmental,

don’t condemn those who fall short,

practice forgiveness.

When it comes to love,

aim high, and don’t be afraid

to fail, says Jesus.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Scribes and widows

Haiku for living

Beware of the scribes

walking around in long robes,

drawing attention.

They like the best seats,

expect people’s deference,

enjoy the honour.

Taking advantage

of widows, hiding their deeds

with their lengthy prayers.

Learned hypocrites,

naked perfidy revealed,

they will be condemned.

Speaking of widows,

Jesus observed one of them

giving her two coins.

When you are wealthy

you can afford to give much,

but when you are poor . . .

Two small copper coins.

Not much, but everything

she had, said Jesus.

To be generous

is to reflect God’s nature.

Live generously.

© Ken Rookes 2018

Leave her alone

I wrote this a few years ago, and made the video last year. I am reposting it in the hope that people might find it useful this lenten season. I think the poem is one of my best. The video can be viewed here.

Leave her alone



An action unexpected,
a pouring seeming haste,
a moment for a spilling
of recklessness and waste.
A gesture for defying
the frugal and the wise;
a splash of beauty’s perfume
bringing tears to the eyes.
The jar of alabaster
holding ointment thick and sweet,
its suffering and death
spilled over tired feet.
With crying and with touching,
love’s cavernous caresses
embrace the teacher’s weary heart,
and, wiping with her tresses,
in devotion spends herself
with carelessness and weeping;
the man is strangely grateful
and grasps the loving deeply.


Things there are, so beautiful
they can’t be bought or traded;
with wasteful generosity
the vision’s never faded.
And beauty is an odd thing,
not understood by all;
and loving, even stranger,
for those who miss her call.
Some simply fail to comprehend
and good souls take offence;
the teacher talks once more of love
and speaks to make defence:
The poor are always present
to test your loving’s power;
this gift she has created here
is precious to this hour.
Our time on earth is given,
one day we’ll all be gone;
my burial is waiting now:
Let be, leave her alone.


© Ken Rookes