1. The Merciful Man
He walked along the brush,
Feasting on the currants
Off the trees. His enemy
Sought to trap him, it's sure.
Yet, he mercifully moved his feet
And forgave: For why throttle
The man who stole, when you owe
Hundreds of Talents of Gold?
Thus, he prayed for mercy,
For a righteous man shall receiver her;
He who is merciful shall receive mercy
So the Beatitudes say:
And upon the path were a perfect fish
A bass, just recently died:
The heron stood on the pier
And probably dropped it in flight.
He picked up the fish, a trophy of a catch!
And threw it back into the pond.
For, it had died of its own
And was not lawful to eat.
Poems, Autumn 2026
Published
