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Look who is coming for Dinner
He was so short – Zacchaeus was his name,
Chief tax collector he of Jericho,
Had heard about the Rabbi and now came,
To see the man himself, incognito.
The shortness of his body disallowed
A viewing of Him and the scenery,
Impossible it was to pick Him out
Among the crowd, - a sheer futility.
And so he climbed up on the nearest tree,
A sycamore with branches strong and fit
From which so short a man like him could see,
And at the same time comfortably sit.
To see the man folks talked so much about
Zacchaeus felt a sudden urgency,
But he was short, and tall the pressing crowd
That felt for tax collectors not much sympathy.
For sympathy his chances were so dim,
A tax collector rarely finds a friend,
The more he taxed, the more they hated him
His visage, and his money grabbing hands.
And friendship’s warmth was nowhere to be found,
In his rich mansion where he kept his gold,
No smiles from people when he made his round,
He met their stares, inimical and cold.
Some shallow pockets more to squeeze and bleed,
Such was Zacchaeus’ purpose and intent,
Compliance with Rome’s law, admixed with greed,
He was disliked and spurned wherever he went.
A man like him would be inquisitive,
And piqued besides by curiosity,
If this famed man was worthy of belief,-
He’d take the Rabbi under scrutiny.
He’d healed a blind man, so some people said,
And rumors more did circulate and spread,
He’d raised a little girl from the dead,
Restored to sanity a chap full mad.
The climb was done, and now he could peek out
By leaves and foliage and branches hid,
Down on the loud gesticulating crowd
To watch the goings on from his high seat.
Zacchaeus plied this so detested trade,
Since many years, he went from door to door,
Collecting taxes mornings until late,
Thus needed refuge in a sycamore.
With nimbleness Zacchaeus climbed yet higher,
To thus inhibit a discovery;
For tax collectors rouse the people’s ire,
They are the last thing people want to see.
Then undertook a careful scrutiny,
And could discern the Master’s countenance
Whose face and features showed benignity,
His words cast spells upon the audience.
He heard a voice resounding from below,
A voice compliant yet imperative:
“Come down, come down Zacchaeus from your bough,
It is not safe! – do something positive!
Command your servants to get food and wine,
Prepare a meal, and take me to your home.
For in you house I wish to wine and dine,
This evening, so hurry up and come!
Zacchaeus by the offered honor struck,
To give half of his assets volunteered,
And opened wide his tax collector sack,
While the assembled throng rejoiced and cheered.
Henceforth Zachaeus had a lot of friends,
Good friends as he had never had before
That opened to him wide their hearts and hands,
And jestfully recalled the sycamore.
Oh he had friends now, many friends he had,
No only friends, but a new family,
His sour face and mien shone bright and glad,
His hands reached out with generosity.
This tax collector when he needed most
Of human solidarity a sign,
Elected was to entertain as host
The Lord of Hosts, and grafted on His vine.
Luke 19: 1-10
© Elizabeth Dandy
Zacchaeus plied this so detested trade,
Since many years, he went from door to door,
Collecting taxes mornings until late,
Thus needed refuge in a sycamore.
With nimbleness Zacchaeus climbed yet higher,
To thus inhibit a discovery;
For tax collectors rouse the people’s ire,
They are the last thing people want to see.
Then undertook a careful scrutiny,
And could discern the Master’s countenance
Whose face and features showed benignity,
His words cast spells upon the audience.
He heard a voice resounding from below,
A voice compliant yet imperative:
“Come down, come down Zacchaeus from your bough,
It is not safe! – do something positive!
Command your servants to get food and wine,
Prepare a meal, and take me to your home.
For in you house I wish to wine and dine,
This evening, so hurry up and come!
Zacchaeus by the offered honor struck,
To give half of his assets volunteered,
And opened wide his tax collector sack,
While the assembled throng rejoiced and cheered.
Henceforth Zachaeus had a lot of friends,
Good friends as he had never had before
That opened to him wide their hearts and hands,
And jestfully recalled the sycamore.
Oh he had friends now, many friends he had,
No only friends, but a new family,
His sour face and mien shone bright and glad,
His hands reached out with generosity.
This tax collector when he needed most
Of human solidarity a sign,
Elected was to entertain as host
The Lord of Hosts, and grafted on His vine.
Luke 19: 1-10
© Elizabeth Dandy
