Holy Saturday Haiku
O Jerusalem!
I'd gather you as a hen
her chicks; You would not.
The mosaic (above) of the hen with her chicks memorializes the prophetic sorrow of Jesus for His beloved people. This mosaic is found in the church of Dominus Flevit ("God weeps")
on the side of Mount Olivet, overlooking Jerusalem.
This Holy Saturday Haiku is taken from Matthew 23: 37-38:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate."
This verse is part of the discourse of Christ in the days immediately before his crucifixion--He weeps for the coming destruction of Jerusalem..and His disciples are stunned--they know that Jesus alludes to Old Testament events when God, who desired to spare His repentant people, used a similar image:
"Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it, he will spare and rescue it. Turn to him from whom you have deeply revolted, O people of Israel. " (Isaiah 31:5)
And the fate of Jerusalem that Christ wept over? In 66 A.D. the Jewish War erupted. By 70 A.D. the city lay under siege, few of its chicks survived the horrors and atrocities, including cannibalism. (Cf. Flavius Josephus, The Jewish War)
8 comments:
i'm in awe. this is just absolutely right on. stunning image.
great haiku.
i hope you are hanging in there sweet 'ums ...
xxx
very good. the perfect marriage of time, thought and image. you will be a tough competitor. Love this Easter mosaic and thought.
you would not. those words are heavy.
sending you love AUntie. xo
Foamy!
A very happy and blessed Easter to yore whole clan! Thanky fer yore many sweet notes of encouragement--it's tough, as ya know. This will be first holiday wif'out Mama (Granny to y'all). Foamy, I has new found respect fer yore own loss--losin' one's mama is as bittersweet a draft as I'se ever had to drink (so far.) Mercy, but I does miss her.
Chick9!
Thanky fer yore praise..but, er I reckon it ain't a regulation entry on account of it not bein' mah own words, but a paraphrase of a scripture verse. I jes' thought it wuz fittin' fer today, Holy Saturday. Besides, Wee Chickie, that mosiac needs to be known by a chicken lover like yoreself.
A blessed Easter Sweet Pup!
Much love to you Aunty, and a blessed Easter as well.
xoxox to you and yours Aunty. That's a beautiful Haiku and the visual? Amazing.
A beautiful post overall.
Two leading authorities on haiku, Master Basho's Ghost and Myself, agree that there's nothing wrong with using scriptural text.
Absolutely stunning. Love the connection to the words of Christ.
a present of poetry and concept.
Peace be with you and all of Granny's clanfolk
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