Held nuclear fission on his tongue;
The Stranger said, “What song was sung?”
These are the words of the Lord.
Jacob
at the guarded ford
Moved crack divisions in his brain;The Stranger said, “What mother’s pain...?”
These are the words of the Lord.
Jacob
at the guarded ford
Weighed pelf and hunger in his hands;The Stranger said, “The burning sands...”
These are the words of the Lord.
Jacob
at the guarded ford
Plucked rose and lily by the stem;The Stranger only said, “Idem.”
These are the words of the Lord.
Jacob
at the guarded ford
Ignored the wound his brother had;The Stranger said, “The wise are mad...”
These are the words of the Lord.
Jacob
at the guarded ford
Arraigned the lion, soothed the lamb;The Stranger only said, “I am.”
These are the words of the Lord.
Jacob
at the guarded ford
Fought till the night was almost dim;His shrivelled sinew cried, “Elohim.”
These
are the words of the Lord.
====================
© February 1980