The Time For Every Purpose Under Heaven
When Late for work, the time for speed is not
When shaving, backing cars, or thinking what to take.
The hare that flushes to the lion’s roar
Lets go of life in futile seizing of the day –
The mouse that twitches feeds the serpent’s fangs.Her desperate addict broke the regulation –
Not quietly as if to get away
But flaunting it as if to make it say…The flags went up – what meaning this?
She stopped and watched
And asked her Pilgrim’s way
Through tricky turf.“A test it is,” her guide advised,
“Like growing teens, and spouses do
Or workers with their boss.
Life-stakes demand to know if it’s for you or me
You speak and act and share and guide and show.”Confused she pressed – he said,
“Three rules he saw you set
To gain the firmer ground.
The breach-response a test
Of willingness to lose
Your gain to seek his health.”“My gain?”
“Why, notches in your gun
Career, success, pay, status with your peers,
He’s seen them all – the pet collectors
Insecure, high-stepping strutters,
Slick predators of every stripe and creed.”“So how respond?”
“Enforce his health, with death to private gain –
Don’t say ‘do anything but leave’ –
For that he’ll do
And on your face
Clean off contemptuous boots.
Tough love –
If tough to life-land leads
But tougher still
The time upon our knees.”navigation