Through the Bible with Poetry: Esther
Jon’s thoughts:
There is a wonderful turning of events in Esther when Haman’s plot to kill the Jews, because Mordecai refused to bow down to him, the king’s highest appointed official, goes the other way and Haman is killed instead. All the plotting, political intrigue and the casting of lots, gets turned around to an end that is, I think, yet another foreshadowing of the work Christ does to redeem this broken world.
I have two poems here. The first, Fear Not, is very simple; a reminder of this turning of events. The second, Ways. His Are Different. Different Are His Ways, is a word palindrome. (Note: even the title is a word palindrome.) When read backwards it is the same as forwards. The only exception is that at the beginning and end the he’s are different, to help emphasize the work of Christ.
Esther 9:25
Fear Not
When evil comes to do its bidding, casting lots for its fare,
Fear not in those days, as if your savior did not care.
For there is a day, oh what a day,
When the evil planned will go the other way.
Palindrome Version
Ways. His Are Different. Different Are His Ways.
Ways; his are different. Evil he turns. Turns he, evil. Different are his ways.
Days are coming. Glorious. Glorious. Coming are days.
He Cares. Cares He. Fear not. Not fear. He Cares.
Fares for casted lots. Lots casted for fares.
Evil comes bidding its due. Due its bidding comes evil.
Evil comes bidding its due. Due its bidding comes evil.
Fares for casted lots. Lots casted for fares.
Cares He. Fear not. Not fear. He cares. Cares He.
Days are coming. Glorious. Glorious. Coming are days.
Ways; His are different. Evil He turns. Turns He evil. Different are His ways.
Jon Bannon
Photo by Irina Iriser
© Jon Bannon 2021