Thursday, November 9, 2017

Dancing Before the Company


At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus. Matthew 14:1-12

Dancing Before the Company

Oh how wondrous it could be
to influence all the powers by a dance
to have enemies destroyed by a tease
to silence the critics in a moment.

There is absolute tyranny in this
to desire the destruction of enemies
to ache for the death of the righteous
who point out our obvious flaws.

We were once children to fumed
at those who teased and those who won
the gifted and despicable that rubbed in
their wealth and worth to our shame.

We are no longer childish nor fools
we can choose to look on the petty
the selfish and the ladders climbers
as those who never knew real love.




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