Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Pithom and Raamses

“And they built for Pharoah treasure cities.”(Exodus I:xi)

A dusty laughter scuffles in the streets
And calls the faithful to a bitter thought;
The youthful gangs, the madmen and the cheats
Denounce a way of life they never sought.

The poorest man puts butter on his bread
And takes a little sugar with his tea.
The temple scribe can only scratch his head
And think of gentle winds far out at sea.

The treasure in the bunkers falls asleep,
Its guards play dice and do not watch the doors;
The faithful find it difficult to weep
And cannot find forgiveness for old scores.

At Sinai a jealous God awaits;
But no-one stumbles from the ill-hung gates.

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© March 1980