How good is this, God? or The best form of welfare.

Haiku for the relevant Minister.

Those who are righteous
can treat others with contempt,
Jesus warned, beware!

The tax collector,
lowly, the Pharisee, grand,
stood in the temple.

The Pharisee prayed
proud, God it’s good to be me,
I thank you for that.

I’m such a fine bloke,
honest, blameless, quite unlike
that dole collector.

The tax collector
bowed his head, God, have mercy
on me, a sinner!

The second went home
justified, his prayer answered.
Not the Pharisee.

They are in control,
still, the Pharisees, with their
contempt for the poor.

How good is this, God,
that we are not drug users
and welfare cheaters?

 

© Ken Rookes 2019

A word of context. These haiku relate to the RCL gospel reading for the 27th October, but seem to have a current relevance to some political rubbish here in Australia. I will re-post ahead of the 27th.

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On the edges

Haiku of inclusion

On the edges of
Samaria, Galilee,
where nobody goes.

North of Jerus’lem
Jesus meets with outcast men,
unclean, unwanted.

Ten lepers approached.
Keeping their distance they cried,
Have mercy, Master!

Go and show yourselves,
to the priests; they will confirm
that you are made clean.

As they make their way
their skin becomes clean and new.
One man turns around.

The Samaritan
falls rejoicing at his feet.
Jesus, I thank you.

Were not ten made clean?
One, alone, comes praising God;
a Samaritan!

Another surprise;
the foreigner commended
as a man of faith.

© Ken Rookes 2019

The size of a mustard seed

Haiku for the faithful

Increase our faith, Lord,
the apostles requested.
A silly question.

What’s the point of faith,
however big or tiny
unless it is used.

You don’t need much faith,
a mustard seed will suffice.
Just put it to use.

Even a schoolgirl
can make a real difference;
faith joined with courage.

Do not reward us
for doing what’s expected.
We do what we must.

We are worthless slaves.
We owe God everything;
thanks are not required.

What to do with faith?
Love, forgive, build justice, peace;
welcome the kingdom.

Look deeply within;
see the faith already there,
ready to wake up.

 

© Ken Rookes 2019

Before it’s too late

Timid, soft and fluffy
waving hands above anxious heads
Is this enough to get us into heaven?

My question,
impolite and unwelcomed:
What has this to do with faith?

The buzz, the feelgood;
it’s reassuring. God,
keep telling us that we’re okay.

Uncertain?
Pray harder, louder, implore the almighty;
don’t do anything until the answer comes.

Don’t do anything,
it’s safer that way.
No mistakes.

If there is a God
she must be screaming.
Before it’s too late!

What was it he said?
Something about love, neighbours?
Before it’s too late.

Don’t count on his return
to bring healing to the planet.
It doesn’t work that way.

 

© Ken Rookes 2019

The gap

Haiku for the indifferent

It’s always been big,
the gap between rich and poor.
Keeps getting larger.

The wealthy man’s scraps
could have fed the poor beggar.
They weren’t on offer.

For a peaceful life
the rich invest in awnings
that conceal the poor.

Beggars confront us,
we hide behind the question:
Are they deserving?

God does not question,
embracing the poor beggar,
deserving or not.

The wealthy protest,
if only we’d realised!
You chose not to know.

Should someone return
from the dead to give warning,
they still would not hear.

 

© Ken Rookes 2019

They called out to God

Haiku for those in bondage

Time’s dust overlays
memory; generations
cause the past to lie.

Joseph is forgot
and those who once were welcomed
are made enemies.

Arriving as guests,
they multiplied, became feared,
ended up as slaves.

Crying out to God
to end their cruel suffering;
Lord, deliver us!

Fugitive Moses,
tending sheep in Midian
sees a burning bush.

As the twigs crackle
Moses hears a voice calling,
takes off his sandals.

Most disturbingly
the voice purports to be God:
I am sending you!

I hear my people,
I know their pain. You must go,
bring them from Egypt.

Demurring, Moses
protests his limitations.
This is beyond me!

Say to my people
I am has sent me to you;
My name for all time.

 

© Ken Rookes 2019

A series of haiku responding to the Narrative Lectionary for 29th Sept.

No longer silent

We used this rap song with its response at our Schools Strike for Climate rally in Bendigo today. (We had about 700 people present) It went well, with a number of people asking for copies. Please feel free to put it to good use.

We’re ordinary people, but we’re no longer silent,
we’re shouting for some action, we’re feeling quite defiant.
don’t keep on ignoring us, we’re angry, we won’t wait,
we want some climate action now, don’t leave it all too late.

We want climate action now, and we’re not going to wait;
help save the planet for us / our kids, we hope it’s not too late.

Our so-called leaders fail to grasp the urgency and need
they ignore the science in the name of wealth and greed.
These fossil fools can’t grasp the truth, reality eludes;
the coral reefs are dying while the politics are crude.

We want climate action now, and we’re not going to wait;
help save the planet for us / our kids, we hope it’s not too late.

Don’t give us your denial, we’re tired of your lying
you only want your profits while the temperatures are rising.
We’re speaking for the insects, the mammals, birds and trees;
We’re speaking for the islands that are sinking ‘neath the seas.

We want climate action now, and we’re not going to wait;
help save the planet for us / our kids, we hope it’s not too late.

The miners keep on digging, rain forests rage and burn,
the CO2 is rising, when will we ever learn?
We’ve walked out of the classrooms, we’re taking to the streets
we’re marching for our future, we’re shouting with our feet!

We want climate action now, and we’re not going to wait;
help save the planet for us / our kids, we hope it’s not too late.

 

Ken Rookes 2019