22 Dec Seeking the Wise Things
Posted at 18:58h
in Poems
Oracles for nations had come in woes penned
Far away, from the kingdom of Judah which fell
Once and rose twice, under a stronger hand still
Holding its yoke sound.
Prophecies fulfilled are of interest when
Naming, even glorying, that of one’s own
Nation, when others become as blown dust
Over the cold ground.
Empty tombs were hewn so for Ammon, Moab,
Even grand Assyria, Edom, those made
Strong supporting Babylon, sisters blood-bound
Buried on each side.
Not for Ethiopia, blossom steadfast,
Thriving well as storied and mighty lands burned
Ruin, even Egypt enslaved and made small,
Made a besieged bride.
Candace, Queen of Topaz, had marveled long that
This Isaiah prophesied rightly, these things —
Persian yokes, Assyrian swords, and hard days —
These shall become naught.
Prophets speak and stand to reproach; as time tests
Every god, the God of Isaiah spoke true,
Making great the meek, and defiling those not
Mighty as some thought.
Thus the Queen commanded her court to learn well
What the God of Judah had spoken since that
Might pertain to them, to the royal land still
Shadowed by flies’ wings.
Bearing incense, ivory, leopard skins, slaves,
Cattle, ostrich feathers and eggs, gazelles, shields,
Bows, and precious stones, the procession marched forth
Seeking the wise things.
These were charged only to trusted armed men
Under court officials, as well as one man
Made a eunuch, treasurer over these things
Meant as devout boon.
Nile crossings late in the day and long rides
North along the path of the Exodus, this
Eunuch spent his time with Isaiah, these scrolls
Rolled all about, strewn.
Pondered this man, “What is the meaning that these
Tender plants unfurl in their splendor, sunshine-
Drunk and fruitful — whom is the vine, of what strange
Nation in dry land?”
Then he pondered, “That if it truly means one
Man, for what transgressions and sorrows might this
Man be chastised, even whom God has named ‘just’,
‘Righteous’, and ‘My hand?’”
Vast and rugged mountains unrolled the landscape
Under clouds of amber in morning-stained skies
When the eunuch came to Jerusalem that
Day in a shy spring.
What a shock, then, that he had rode a long road
Only learning now of restrictions that barred
Eunuchs ever entering temple grounds, that
Spurned all he might bring.
Treasures meant as sacrifice, carriage-caged gifts,
Marched away, and onward the eunuch sought
Answers elsewhere, leaving the holy mount when
Dawn had become day.
Then, he spoke in prophecy, “Driest fall heat
Lays upon herbs sprung in the field, the place God
Rests in dew-clouds clears for the harvest, white sprigs
Blossoming someday.”
“Branches bare that day,” he recited, “That lack
Fruit, He prunes, and such is the day His hook falls
Over Zion even, the day of God comes
Swift as a grand flood.”
Then he asked, “Isaiah had spoken such things,
Knowing full well later an innocent bears
Every sin, so what shall be washed and made white,
Cleansed in the lamb’s blood?”
“This is not the prophet,” he thought, “That this
Man shall never speak in the judgment, that God
Should be pleased in punishing guiltless men that
Carry His own word.”
Then, at last, “Exalted is this who bears sin,
Portioned spoil after His death; I ask once
More in earnest: who is the lamb?” and one man
Standing alone heard.
This is Philip, guided by Spirit, when that
Angel sent him here to explain the word God
Gave Isaiah long in the past, in days hope
Vanished as scant dew.
Philip spoke: “Christ risen fulfills complete this
Thing and more, and every prophetic thing God
Spoke in prophets, guided by Spirit, guides these
Things I will grant you.”
“Jeremiah,” Philip explained, “was once hung
Underneath his arms in a cistern, shared not
Food nor water, till he was saved by one such
Eunuch among us.”
“Thus, for Ethiopia,” Philip said, “God
Seeks your hand converting a tall and smooth folk
Where the floodplains are awash, to baptize
These with the truth thus.”
This Apostle spoke with an eager glow each
Thing the eunuch questioned, and soon enough, all
Grand mystique shrouding Christ illumined, the pair rode
Slow into sunset.
Every scroll connected to Christ, and not one
Thing remained to linger unanswered, till that
Thing remained to linger unanswered, till that
Water came in view and the eunuch knew that
Thing to be done yet.
Philip washed the eunuch and cleansed his sins, then
Vanished not a moment too soon, his deed done,
Taken elsewhere, leaving the eunuch awe-struck,
Faith in him burned strong.
When the eunuch came to the Queen again, good
News for Ethiopia brought to them wide-
Spread conversion, glorious days ahead, that
Church has endured long.