Friday, February 26, 2021

Happy Purim!

A-Poem-a-Day

 Until Resurrection Day...


ACCEPTANCE

 

I accept this bitter cup

filled to the brim

with the wine

of sorrow

I'll take

and drink

it dry

 

For I have tasted

the sweet wine

of the red

grapes

of joy

the wine

of gladness

the wine

of blessing

 

I accept this cross—

 

I will lug its weight

upon my

bony shoulder

and trudge

the pathway

of travail

When

I misstep

and stumble

I'll call for help

 

My cross

is so, so small

compared to Yours

My bitter cup

sweet honey

All I need

to make it

Jesus

is Your hand

and Your deep

unfathomable

Love…

 

Maude Carolan



Chag Purim Sameach!

Image credit: youtube.com

QUEEN ESTHER, BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL

 

There’s a book in the Bible that’s a nail-biting thriller.

It’s often read at Purim. Some call it the Megillah.

There is one thing about it that some readers find quite odd—

in all the book’s ten chapters, there is no mention of God.

 

The heroine is Esther, a brave and beautiful queen

who saves her people, the Jews, from a diabolic scheme.

There’s another queen in the story, Vashti is her name;

she defied King Ahasuerus and brought upon him shame,

 

therefore, Queen Vashti was banished, and a new queen was sought.

The young virgins of Susa, to the citadel, were brought.

With oil of myrrh and spices, they were groomed and primped and primed

till the king selected the maiden he deemed most sublime.

 

Exquisite Esther found favor with him. Soon she was crowned

the new queen of Susa, regally bejeweled and begowned!

The fact that she was Jewish, the queen kept well concealed;

for like a papa, Mordecai said, “Keep your royal lips sealed!”

 

Mordecai had raised her like his daughter; an upstanding man—

He overheard a plot brewing against the king of the land,

so the murderous plot was foiled; hanged were the two thugs,

but Mordecai received no thanks, no reward and no hugs.

 

Hated was Mordecai by Haman, the aide to the king,

for the Jew would not bow down and to Haman homage bring.

Haman schmoozed with the king and received a promotion

but his hatred for the Jews stirred a sinister notion.

 

Haman devised a foul plan to annihilate the Jews.

This plot divulged to Mordecai was deep, dark, evil news.

Mordecai implored Queen Esther to go before the king

to beg him to halt Haman’s plan by the seal of his ring.

 

It was dangerous, indeed, for the woman he cherished,

but Queen Esther insisted, “If I perish, I perish!”

She called for her people and maids to keep a three-day fast,

then inhaled a deep breath and did something extremely rash—

 

She planned a lush banquet; invited her king and Haman.

Over wine, she revealed to the king, Haman’s evil plan.

The villain was sent to the gallows; hanged till he was dead

and dear old Mordecai had honors heaped upon his head!

 

The king affixed his seal to an edict that saved the Jews—

Throughout the kingdom of Susa that was the greatest news!

Now each Purim Esther gets a commemorative nod

and although He wasn’t mentioned, so does the hand of God!

 

Maude Carolan Pych

The above poem won the Spiritual Award for Poetry

at St. Catherine's Festival of the Arts in Ringwood, NJ.


Maude's book, "Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Maude's book at Barnes & Noble, Woodland Park, NJ,
in the Christian Living section.


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