Was Anyone Six
for anyone who has ever loved and hoped for a sick child
Was anyone six
who lay on a bed
bruised and broken
afore he had…
lived?
First trip to market—
or do child and corner already belong
claimed by a cup
where alms trickle across his palm
(instead of caterpillars)
Did someone tell a story?
Who first
Jesus or lad,
imagination’s energy quite different
from one small.sickly.frame
Is mother at home?
heart shackled to his side
hope her companion
she – begging
for life
Did Jesus speak?
some have heard these words
“I know what she needs…”
“She is merely asleep.”
“Rise up and walk.”
“No one sinned.”
“I might be glorified” through
one small.child’s.dance
What did the child hear?
“Shhh…it’s our secret…”
pound right here
Did he remind Jesus of seven
hide-n-seek in the crowd
the game of a thousand temple questions?
hammer and nails…
hammer and nails…
There are bumps and bruises to be had
I must be about my Father’s business
hammer and nails…
Was anyone six?
did Jesus hold back a grin
for another tale to be told?
what hearts did he heal
as child clambered up…
Finish the market piggyback—
Does this not offend?
Child swagger
grounded
in hanging on to a bigger hem.
jfig 4/2020
Dear Reading Friend,
This poem took me on a lot of tangents. In following them, I stumbled onto ideas I’d never considered before, so it was worth the journey. Thank you for joining me.
Questions to ponder:
? In what way is Jesus inviting you to ‘hang on, childlike, to the hem of his garment?
? We are often reminded to ‘have childlike faith.’ In what ways do children uniquely image their creator?
The poem references these passages: Mark 5:35-43; John 9:3; Matthew 18:3; Ephesians 5:1. You can access scriptures at https://www.blueletterbible.org/
Also, I lost a day somewhere…I’m not going to worry too much about that. If you are still on day 15, we are not lost from each other, nor hopefully from the one who is leading the way. jfig
Roasted Words 