Linocut
Linocut. Featuring the Little Raven, a beautiful glossy black bird; found in abundant numbers here in Bendigo, Australia
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Tag Archives: Advent
The Baptiser warns
Haiku of preparation
The Baptiser warns
the crowds who come to hear him.
It is time, repent!
This brood of vipers
comes out of fear, to escape
the coming judgement.
Produce in your hearts
and in your deeds, fruits worthy
of your repentance.
Don’t trust in your race
or that you are one of God’s
privileged people.
Share your possessions,
be honest, deal fairly, don’t
abuse your power.
They asked John, Are you
the one who God is sending?
I am not the one.
Not I, but one comes
who will set your souls on fire.
This is my good news.
© Ken Rookes 2021
Waiting
Linocut for this year’s Christmas cards.
11 x 10.5 cm.
The crowds were coming
Haiku of anticipation
The crowds were coming.
They’d heard he was baptising.
Come! Begin again!
John was a preacher,
among other things. Repent!
Produce righteous fruits!
You brood of vipers!
he cried to the hypocrites
who came, pretending.
Your historical
entitlement is ending;
bear the fruits of love.
What then should we do?
they asked him. Learn how to share;
spread the love around.
Tax collectors came.
Don’t collect more than you should.
Treat people fairly.
Soldiers came, seeking.
Don’t exploit your position;
wages are enough.
People were asking:
Could he be the promised one
that God is sending?
That one is coming.
I have baptised with water;
he brings the Spirit.
© Ken Rookes 2018
Stand, be courageous.
Haiku of warning and encouragement
Signs all around us
in the sun, moon and the stars.
and here upon earth
The planet will shake
seeking freedom from bondage
to power and fear.
They will call lies truth
and truth lies; brazen, barefaced.
Fear will rule the day.
The Son of Man comes.
When you see these things happen
stand, be courageous.
Leaves on the fig tree
tell us that summer is near;
so, too, the kingdom.
Live well, be ready.
Free your hearts from earthly cares.
Do not be caught out.
Troubles are coming
on you and ev’ryone else;
pray you have the strength.
© Ken Rookes 2018
Annunciation
Haiku of wonder
In these ancient tales
unexpected pregnancies
convey the wonder.
God, they assure us,
is at last doing something
to sort the world out.
An agéd woman
has managed to conceive, now
it’s her cousin’s turn.
The angel’s busy
conveying surprising news.
The girl is nonplussed.
Do not be afraid!
Easy to say, Gabriel;
it isn’t your womb!
You will bear a son.
You’ll call him Jesus. He will
do amazing things!
That, we know is true.
We will follow his story;
we will follow him.
Her fears overcome,
the girl agrees, allowing
events to proceed.
Only Luke gives us
these strange announcement stories,
stretching the waiting.
We’re left to ponder:
is wonder the same as truth;
and does it matter?
© Ken Rookes 2017.
Haiku for Advent
Haiku for Advent
Christian faith is an
unexpected weed growing
in a polite field.
© Ken Rookes 2016
Blessed the fruit of your womb
The story begins with a girl,
fecund, mid-teens,
belly beginning to swell.
It will get much larger,
as, within her womb,
the miracle of life claims its space.
An unlikely sign, vulnerable,
yet outrageously defiant;
a sign to engender hope,
to confront earth’s bondage
and futility.
A peasant girl,
pregnant with purpose and possibility;
the lowly are to be elevated to positions of significance
while kings, emperors, princesses
and other persons of power and plenty
will be asked to descend from their lofty seats
to begin their acquaintance with earth’s dust.
The girl could be anyone;
any place on the planet,
any point in its history.
She is caught up in this common human tale;
the wonder,
the waiting,
the struggle,
the pain
and the joy.
A sign for eternity.
© Ken Rookes 2015
Among you stands one
When your eyes are opened,
you will see him,
no longer hidden,
but unveiled, revealed
as the one sent from above.
You may remember this day
and my words. No,
I am not he.
Who is he, what does he look like?
I cannot answer;
I simply know that he is coming,
perhaps even come,
among us; here, today.
What will he say to us,
what will he ask of us?
More questions.
Ready yourselves to make him welcome;
nothing will remain the same.
Do not fear his changes,
embrace them with courage;
the magnificent journey awaits us all.
It will be no easy passage.
Accept the risk, start now,
and join me in the water.
© Ken Rookes 2014
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