Things are different, now.

 

Haiku responding to Colossians 3: 1-11

You've been raised with Christ;

seek the things that are above

with Christ, and with God.

Eschew earthly things.

Seek that which comes from above;

live your risen life.

End earthly desires;

sexual immorality,

evil passions, greed.

Rid yourself of wrath,

malice, anger, slander, and

language of abuse.

Always speak the truth.

You've been renewed, so reflect

the image of God.

No more Greek and Jew,

circumcised and not; slave, free;

Christ is all, in all.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Raised with Christ

Haiku responding to Colossians 2:6-15

You have received Christ

hear his words as you travel

through your life with him.

Do not be deceived

by those whose earthly wisdom

makes them ignore God.

In Christ God's fullness

dwells. Through Christ we enter in

to fullness of life

The circumcision

that counts comes from Spirit; true

sign of belonging.

Baptised and buried,,

you were also raised with Christ,

trusting God's power.

You were dead in sin,

God raised you to life once more

when he forgave you.

God casts aside Law's

harsh requirements, dismissing

her fierce proponents.

© Ken Rookes 2025

We are born, we die.

Haiku of joy and sorrow

Near Jerusalem,

Bethany, place of welcome;

Martha and Mary.

Brother Lazarus

is ill. They send for Jesus.

He doesn’t hurry.

Twelve hours of daylight,

nobody needs to stumble

if they see the light.

Lazarus is dead.

Much grieving with many tears;

Jesus weeps with them.

Your brother will rise.

I am the resurrection.

Trust in me, and live

Yes, Lord, I believe

that you are the Messiah,

the Son sent from God.

Mary comes and kneels.

If only you were here, Lord,

he would not have died.

We are born, we die.

Cycles of joy and sorrow;

we all must face death.

It’s overrated,

bodily resurrection;

there’s a time to die.

Jesus prefigures

his own dying and rising,

raises Lazarus.

© Ken Rookes 2020

As the story goes

Haiku of unexpected life

As the story goes

Lazarus from Bethany

had been dead four days.

When Jesus arrived,

sister Martha did complain:

What kept you so long?

If you had been here!

I am the resurrection

and the life, he said.

Yes, Lord, I believe

that you are the Messiah;

God's Son, in the world.

Mary fell weeping

at Jesus' feet. Lord, she said,

If you had been here!

Had you come sooner

my brother would not have died.

Take me to his tomb.

Jesus also wept.

They removed the entrance stone

to see life triumph.

© Ken Rookes 2017