REFLECTIONS i

The Light appeared

- The Light of the world -

But cottages, synagogues, villas

Were shuttered or blinded.

Yet, through mercy, a few

Shutters were rotted, blinds

Were frayed: glimmers

Pierced gloom.

Attracted

Householders peered at the glow,

Loosened curtain or wood.

Cautiously, tenderly

Some souls

Moved to the doors, slid

Quietly into

The full blaze of the Sun.

SIVATHARINI

 Her shyness moulded her face
To a solemn look
For my first photo.

Teased, her shyness
Could not prevent the escape of her giggles
From fingers over her lips.

She was exhibit A;
Exhibit B, a cancer report; exhibit C,
The newspaper account of her need.

How often - in nine of her twelve years -
Had she shyly sat
While elders and betters talked over her head?

They gave me cake and a biscuit
As we discussed her.  Then shyly
She leaned forward to brush the crumbs from my knee.

9 September 2019

Sivatharini

ELISHA

Chariots of fire were not your style ‑
You bent forward patiently with twelve
Yoke of oxen, their damp warmth
And soft breath wrapping you, though cold,
Turning tilth sucked your feet.
Your nostrils savoured fresh earth
‑ And fresh dung. But always your eyes
Aimed for their mark, engraving the fields
With straight, fertile furrows.

Effectiveness. Problems, debt, disease and death,
Barrenness of land or woman, great or small
Personages, your skill with God always answered ‑
Precursor of a Greater, you secured God's solutions.

Water was your special element
Signifying and creating
Both life and death:
To the thirsty kings coolness
But in your enemies’ eyes blood.
Knowing the bitterness you
Could cleanse the bitterness ‑
Since you had crossed Jordan
The axe swam in Jordan:
Was it because when young
You poured water on the hands
Of Elijah, the man of God?

INDIA

For your prayers - off to India for the next couple of weeks!
Grace be with you all

DCB

A PSALM ON THE TITLES OF CHRIST

If He is the Alpha and the Omega
All titles between belong to Jesus;
if He is the Father's Beloved
He is the assembly's Beloved too.
Since the Lord Jesus is the Christ of God
How wonderful a Christ-ian is to God!
Since the Dayspring from on high has risen
What guidance we have in the way of peace!
Emmanuel has come in - God with us -
So that by His grace we should be with God;
He came that He might become Friend to me
And fold me with those who are friends of God.
If God distinguishes His "gracious one"
He will also pour grace into His lips;
Since He is the Head of the assembly
He's worthy to be Head of every man;
The Person who could call Himself, "I am"
Said also, "I am the door of the sheep".
Since the Just One has suffered on the cross
The just may be justified by his faith. 
Jesus, the rejected King of the Jews,
Will reign in universal kingship.
He is Lord of all we willingly say, 
Before the day when all confess Him Lord.
If already we have the Morning Star
Soon the world shall shine in Messiah's light.
How suitable that the Nazareaen
Should be the branch of true nazariteship;
Since He is the Alpha and Omega
He must have as spouse the Aleph to Tau.
He is a clearer Prophet than Moses;
He is a purer Priest than Aaron;
For the dead the Son is the Quickener:
For the storm-tossed He is the Quietener;
If in His grace He is the Redeemer
Such grace made Him a Ransom for many;
To the One who is Saviour and Shepherd
Belongs the title of the Son of God;
We receive instruction from the Teacher
And refreshing fruit from the Tree of life.
Our  holy, harmless, undefiled High Priest
Bears to our unfading inheritance.
O Wisdom of God, the incarnate Word,
Come and show us the way of prudence.
He who expired is risen: exult Him!
He who excels us all: exult in Him!
We are awaiting the once-slain Yearling:
"Yea, I come quickly", the Lord Jesus says.
Zechariah tell us where His feet shall stand;
And Zephaniah tells where He will rest.

Completed 5 August 2019.