Tag: Bible

The Writing on the Wall

King Belshazzar summoned Daniel when these words first appeared:

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upsharin, their meaning wasn’t clear.

Daniel knew when first he read the writing on the wall 

Trouble was a’coming and a kingdom sure to fall

He predicted a Babylon at war, their people overcome

Death and destruction raining down; the end of days for some. 

Where, oh where is Daniel now to interpret what’s been writ,

By greedy politicians, lacking compassion and/or grit?

A document that few have read, still fewer comprehend,

Has power over life and death; what suffering it portends!

No, we have no need for Daniel to show us what seems plain:

Rich white men aren’t worried about your suffering or your pain.

 
The phrase “the writing on the wall” refers to Chapter 5 of the Book of Daniel in the Bible when King Belshazzar sees a hand appear to write the words Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upsharin on a wall. Belshazzar summons Daniel to interpret the writing, which Daniel translates as “Numbered, numbered, weighed, divided.” Daniel tells Belshazzar that the writing means that Babylonian kingdom will be invaded and divided among the Medes and the Persians. The term “writing on the wall” has since been used to refer to any omen that predicts a bad outcome.

In the Garden

Good and evil
The two of them
Eve and Adam
Original sin.
Who lured whom
To taste the fruit?
And does it matter?
The point is moot.
Nodding heads,
Blame assessed,
Pointed fingers,
Get ye dressed!
While they both tasted
Eve bore the blame,
Adam too weak
To fight her chains.
Away the snake slunk
Victorious and smug
His job of sullying
Woman’s place was done.

Whose Psalm?

who will speak for justice,
whose conscience won’t be calmed,
who feels the anger justified,
who leans upon the Psalms?

yea, though I walk
through the valley
of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
for thou art with me.

whose spirit recognizes truth
whose words and deeds combine
whose life reflects the Word
who fears not, but loves sublime?