Watching Ravens in Alaska

My daughter and I in Alaska

visit a raven sanctuary

many ravens are protected inside

a huge cage and outside

are many more ravens

who are not caged

free to come and go

to find their own food

 

A metaphor of raven

that day as mother and daughter

stood seeking a wildlife experience

in Anchorage after the snow had melted

watching ravens

their caw and sharp deep-throated

guttural sound

which one are you?

Watching Ravens in Alaska

Greek Fire

   
Chemists mystified 

     even to this day

Byzantine recipe conquered at sea

when propelled

     forceful streams of fire

Greek fire could not be quenched by water

     rather it ignited further

when propelled  

     forceful streams of fire

       Fueled by force

         air and water
___________________

dVerse prompt with dynamic verbs – Greek fire was a form of weaponry 700AD – image public domain

Greek Fire

The Battle

 

I went downtown to help a friend get a collared clergy shirt.  He spoke a little English even though his first language is French.  He had come from Rome for a Holy Convocation.  I was overwhelmed by the number of icons, so many little plastic Jesuses and Him still hanging on the cross.  “Iconoclast……….the battle is real.”  I doubt that he knew what I said.  I started to weep wondering what Jesus would have thought of the things I was seeing in the shop.  Would He have taken a whip out?

I felt like Paul in Ephesus when he rebuked the god Artemis and the idol makers set the people against him.  I told my friend I felt like Paul in Ephesus but I doubt that he understood what I was saying. I hardly knew myself.  I walked around the shop while my friend tried on the clergy shirt.  What I was seeing was big business all over the world.  On the shelf was a single crown of thorns and I questioned if this is what Jesus died for.

More than a savior

Jesus wants to be your LORD

And His will be done
________________

dVerse prompt to write in haibun form

The Battle

Wheat and Tare

Jesus said

Let the two grow together

The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man

The field is the world

And the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom

This was a kingdom of heaven parable used by Jesus to teach the message of His kingdom.  The disciples asked if He would teach them further about the parable of the weeds in the field.  They wanted to know more about how they could spot the tare, the weed.  Perhaps they were confused about what could be discerned among themselves for you know that sometimes they argued and wanted to know who was the greater of them.  Perhaps they wanted to understand better how it was possible that they should let an enemy be amongst them for you know that Judas was there too.  These weeds would have to be removed at harvest so how will this be possible?

Jesus said

The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend

Now perhaps the disciples put away all of their offense and began to see the harvest as it was and not what they had wanted it to be.
____________________

dVerse prompt to see what is outside the window and Jesus’s parable of The Wheat and the Tare

Wheat and Tare