Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Hannah's Children



They will come in their own time,
probably in the black
funnel of the night,
and probably in secret-
No one will see
their marvelous coming
But the other goats,
and Maple the pony.

Now, on the evening
of the last counted day,
We latch the stable door.
As the white moon rises
She settles to her knees.

Her curious yellow eyes-
Old as the stones
of Greece, of the mountains
That were born with the world-
Look at us in friendship,
and then look away,

Inward, Inward
to the sacred groves



In Jewish stories there are two prominent Hannahs. One is the mother of Samuel, who was the last of the Hebrew Judges, the first of the major prophets, and the anointer of the first  kings of Israel, Saul and David.  He warns the people of how kings should be held to account.

The other has sevens sons who along with her were arrested shortly before the revolt of Judas Maccabees (2 Maccabees 8).  Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempted to force them to eat pork, and when they refused, he executed all 7 sons before the mother's eyes. 

What will happen to Hannah's children?  Will her kids know boredom, captivity, and slaughter?  Through their eyes will we see into other kingdoms, and refuse to eat of their flesh and sacrifice others?  Will they ask us to hold ourselves to account?  Out of the oceans, out of Africa, out of the sacred groves we come - let us not kingdoms rue but friendship rule. 

What prophecy do you hear in this poem?     




1 comment:

  1. I forget whether it is from the Koran or my father The Old Testy Man, but correct me iff i am wrong but didn't go something along the lines of "let they whom is without..."

    no it was "good so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten..."

    not that either, in fact i am positive it was the verse that said

    "Thou shalt stop!" and then said

    "Hammer-Time,"

    ReplyDelete