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Condemned to Bitter Leisure
It was a hot day in the afternoon
They sat together in the crowded room,
Some faces shone, and others looked distraught
But all hung on His lips while Jesus taught.
A lame man outside voiced his desperate plea
To let him inside, but no space was free
But faithful friends were willing to remove
By patient labor sections of the roof
To dig a hole in it and push him through,
A hole if wide sufficiently would do.
Deft persuasion’s power did its part
And soon the friends performed a feat of art..
They dug- - some rubbish suddenly came down,
Trod roofing, thatch and debris clayish brown.
Mud bricks, and litter of a medley kind
Fell on the heads below but Jesus did not mind.
Dismay there was at first, then hearty laughter
When down upon them came some chunks of rafter,
That freed by busy hands and widening hole
Did smash to smithereens an earthen bowl.
Happy the man whose neighbors are so true
To punch in loyalty a ceiling through,
And feel so strong for one that does depend
On God alone and on some faithful friend.
That have themselves experienced some squeeze
And work no mercy’s deed from comfort’s ease
But having tasted need, don‘t condescend,
From lofty snugness,- such a one call “friend“.,
To do this sort of thing does take great skill-
Four pairs of hands held on to ropes until
The unsafe operation was complete
And down the cot dropped at the Savior’s feet.
Aroused, the people jostled here and there
Within the lowly room’s parameter,
But Jesus marveled at true friendship’s strength.
That went to help a friend to such a length.
“From sins ,-- the Lord spoke- “son, you are released!“
Upon these words some pundits quickly seized,
And pressed a point polemical and moot
Thus opening up the way for a dispute.
The brawlers found the saying bold and odd,
For none can pardon sins, but only God,.-
The Lord serenely stopped the squabblers’ talk,
And bad the paralytic man to walk
Forgiven sins, - alas, can not be seen,
No matter how the eyes are sharp and keen,
But make a lame man leap is manifest,
And goods delivered satisfy the quest.
The man got up, praised God and waved his hand,
And found the pundits were irrelevant,
He took his bed, as bidden, leapt and ran,-
The Kingdom counted a new healthy man,
The man was healed and whole, but many are
Condemned to wheelchairs that can go not far,
May God in mercy make their leisure sweet,
And bring forth fruit of grace for this we plead.
Great photo. It really enhances your poem.