II KINGS CHAPTER 1 - 6

2 KINGS 1

1 Moab rebelled against the land
Of Israel after death’s hand
Took Ahab. 2 Ahaziah fell
Down through a lattice truth to tell
In his upper chamber that was
In Samaria, and for that cause
He was ill, and sent messengers
And said to them, “Go jingling spurs
Enquire of Baalzebub the god
Of Ekron whether from this pod
Of illness I’ll get well or not.”
3 The angel of YHWH on the spot
Said to Elijah the Tishbite,
“Get up and go outside to meet
The messengers upon their feet
Of the king of Samaria,
And tell them, ‘Is in not because
There’s no God between Israel’s paws
That you are travelling to enquire
Of Baalzebub of Ekron’s hire?’
4 “That’s why YHWH says the following,
‘You will not get up from that spring
Bed you are lying on, but you
Will surely die.’” After that too
Elijah departed and flew.
5 And when the messengers turned back
To him, he said “Alas, alack,
Why is it you have now turned back?”
6 And they said to him, “There came out
A man to meet us and to shout,
‘Go, turn back to the king who sent
You, and tell him, “So says unspent
YHWH, ‘Is it not because there’s not
A God in Israel to be sought
That you send to enquire the god
Of Ekron Baalzebub in pod?
That’s why you will not get up from
That bed where you are lying dumb,
But you will surely die, by God.’”’”

The god of Ekron is alive and well
And all the presidents on earth who dwell
In the fire of sweet love and maddened spell
Come to seek life at his word while the knell
Of day chimes hymns ostensibly to You
Who never shod your feet with triune shoe.
Beloved, the god of Ekron, Beelzebub,
Dances in every church that hears the scrub
Of rock and country gospel, yet You are
In every place on earth and furthest star.
What I tell You, You know better than I,
You have the whole view of the splendoured fly.
The god of Ekron dances at the gate.
Perhaps he knows what will be his last fate.

7 And he asked them, “What kind of man
Was it that came to meet your scan,
And told you these words by his plan?”
8 And they answered, “A hairy man,
And with a leather belt upon
His waist.” And he said at the drawn,
“It’s Elijah the Tishbite’s ban.”
9 The king sent to him fifty’s chief
With his fifty without relief,
And he went to him and see there
He sat on a hilltop to stare,
And he spoke to him, “Man of God,
The king says to come down and nod.”
10 Elijah answered the chief of
Fifty and said with hand in glove,
“If I’m a man of God, then let
Fire come down from the sky and get
You and your fifty.” And there came
Down from the sky consuming flame
And destroyed him and fifty’s claim.
11 So once again he sent to him
Another captain fifty’s grim,
And he spoke to him saying then,
“O man of God, the king again
Says to come quickly down from den.”
12 Elijah answered telling them,
“If I’m a man of God, by gem,
Let fire come down from heaven and burn
You and your fifty.” At that turn
A great fire came down from the sky
And killed him and his fifty nigh.
13 And he sent once more fifty’s chief,
A third with his fifty’s relief,
And the third captain of fifty
Went up and came and fell on knee
Before Elijah and begged him,
And told him, “Man of God not grim,
I beg you, let my life and that
Life of these fifty here on mat
As your servants be precious in
Your sight. 14 “See there came fire from heaven
And burnt up two captains and leaven
Of the former fifties and their
Fifties, therefore now my life spare
As precious in your eyes to care.”

Beloved, today it’s to the wicked we
Must be humble and have a care to be
Sweet and soft lest the tanks of his army
Come push over the house where we live free.
The day of Your Elijah is so rare,
Hardly does any man come here to share
Fear of You and Your state and Your appointed.
No one is humble before Your anointed.
Instead the roar of bombs strikes open air
And flames come not from Your throne nor its share,
But from the missiles and the guns of those
Who rant with evil hearts on those You chose.
Beloved, the fires are always in the sky,
Whether from You or from others nearby.

15 The angel of YHWH said then to
Elijah, “Go down with the crew,
Don’t be afraid of him.” And he
Got up and went down with him, see,
To the king. 16 And he told him there
“So says YHWH, ‘Since you did not spare
To send messengers to enquire
Of Baalzebub the god of fire
Of Ekron, not because there’s no
God in Israel His word to show?
That’s why you will not get up from
The bed you lying on in sum,
But you will surely die like bum.’”
17 And so he died just as the word
Of YHWH said by Elijah stirred.
And Jehoram reigned in his place
In the second year of the grace
Of Jehoshaphat Judah’s king,
Because he did not have offspring.
18 The rest of what Ahaziah
Did, is it not written by paw
In the book of Chronicles of
The kings of Israel as above?
And Jehoram as Ahab’s son
Reigned over Israel under sun
Of Samaria for twelve years’ run,
Starting in eighteenth year of king
Jehoshaphat of Judah’s ring.
And he did what was evil in
The sight of the Lord, though for sin
Not as his brothers and his mum.
And he removed the pillars of
Baal which his father made for love,
And broke them in pieces, and yet
He joined the sins of the house met
Of Jeroboam, who led to sin
Israel, he did not leave that bin.
That’s why YHWH was wroth with the room
Of Ahab and led it to doom.

I might rejoice, Beloved, to hear the news
That Ahaziah’s dying in his pews,
If the same messenger brought to me that
I would live on to pray and to get fat
Because I have not sent to Ekron’s god
To find health, wealth and a pea in the pod.
Just because every man around I see
Is certain that death waits at Your decree
Or at the hand of evolution’s sour,
Does not mean that Your beloved’s in its power.
Who knows if You will not put out a hand
And save from death a greater faithful band
Than just Elijah, Enoch, Jesus and
Muhammad al-Mahdi, the four that stand?

2 KINGS 2

1 It came to pass when YHWH would take
Up Elijah into the wake
Of a whirlwind into the sky,
Elijah went up on the sly
With Elisha from Gilgal’s stake.

Beloved, You took Elijah to Your breast
To find a place of fire where he might rest
With Enoch who had long whirled on the flame
Of love and smoke and glory to Your name.
Beloved, You took the man because he had
Not done nor thought nor spoken any bad,
But always obeyed You in everything,
And so You saved him from death’s withered sting.
Beloved, as three-score years come crowding round
My head in my sojourning on the ground,
I pray You might blot out the sadness that
Deprives me of the glory where You sat,
And when my turn arrives, send own a wheel
Of that same chariot to grab my heel.

2 Elijah said to Elisha,
“Stay here, please, for YHWH by His paw
Has sent me to Bethel to bake.
And said Elisha, “As YHWH lives,
And as your soul also that gives,
I shall not leave you.” So they went
Down to Bethel as they were sent.
3 And the sons of the prophets who
Were at Bethel came out in crew
To Elisha and said to him
“Do you know that YHWH’s at the rim
Of taking your master today
From your head?” And he said “Indeed,
I know it, but do not impede.”

Elisha told the cantillators of
Your Scriptures in their gathering of love
To be still about coming circumstance
Of Elijah going to make sky dance.
The reason’s clear, he wanted to go out
With Elijah and hear the heavenly shout
When glory split the sky and fire rained down
To whisk the prophet out of Israel’s town.
Beloved, I whisper and hush with a frown,
And sink into the burning prayer within,
Petitioning the blotting out of sin
Until Your holy temple comes to light
Burning and purified, gloried and white,
That You might also give to me that crown.

4 Elijah told him, “Elisha,
Stay here, please, for YHWH by His paw
Has sent me down to Jericho.”
And he said “YHWH lives and not so?
And as your soul lives, I shall not
Leave you.” So they came to the plot
Of Jericho. 5 And the sons of
The prophets that were on the shove
At Jericho came to Elisha,
And said to him, “Not to entice you,
Do you know that YHWH’ll take away
Your master from your head today?”
And he said “I have the whole lease,
But just be quiet, hold your peace.”
6 Elijah told him, “You stay here,
Please, for YHWH’s sent me without gear
To Jordan.” And he said “As YHWH
Lives and indeed as your soul too,
I shall not leave you.” And the two
Continued on. 7 And fifty men
Of the prophets’ sons went again
And stood to watch some way away,
And they both stood by Jordan’s sway.
8 Elijah took his cloak and wrapped
It round and hit the water snapped,
And it divided there in two,
And they went over with dry shoe.

If anyone could take the cloak and strike
The waters of the Jordan with a spike
To split the foam and pile the waves up high,
Then he could also rise up in the sky.
If anyone could take hold of the cloak
Of good Elijah and hold fast like oak
Until the chariot came down in fire,
He could also achieve holy desire.
Beloved I lay hand on the woollen rope
That bound Elijah’s waist and in that hope
Strike out toward the grey-spent shore to take
Your chariot by storm for Your name’s sake,
And cantillate the prophets’ sons’ bright lays
As I rise up to meet You in Your praise.

9 It happened when they passed the stream
Elijah asked Elisha “Deem,
What shall I do for you before
I’m taken up from your last shore?”
Elisha said “Please give me twice
The portion of your spirit’s slice.”
10 And he said “You’ve asked a hard thing,
But if you see me on the wing,
Then your wish will be granted, but
If not, then the thing will be shut.”

Beloved, I seek a boon beyond the light
Of this world’s blooming flowers and scented night,
Beyond the sound of Psalm and song of word
That bounded on sacred Sinai and stirred
The world to faith and power. I seek an hour
And vision on deserted meadows’ flower
Where this creation cracks to find the life
That rises up beyond both demon strife
And machinations of the human hair
That lines the feeble shortages in lair.
Beloved, I seek a boon in double sight,
A working out in my soul of the right
Until the ages melt eternally
Upon the shores of Your commands’ decree.

11 It happened as they still went on
And talked, see, in fire like the dawn
A chariot and horses drawn
With fire came splitting them apart,
Elijah went up in the heart
Of a whirlwind in a sky cart.
12 Elisha seeing it cried out,
“My father, father, and the rout
Of Israel’s chariot and more
The horses of it at the door.”
And he did not see him again.
And he grasped his own clothes and tore
Them in two pieces on the shore.
13 He also took Elijah’s cloak
That fell off of him as he spoke,
And went back and stood by the bank
Of Jordan. 14 And he took and sank
The mantle of Elijah that
Fell off of him and smacked it flat
On the water and said “Where’s YHWH
Ælohim of Elijah’s crew?”
And when he’d also hit the flood
It parted and revealed the mud,
And Elisha went over too.

Elisha saw the vision of Your sword,
He saw the flaming horses and adored
The driving chariot that sweeps the sky
Of every day since Enoch rose to spy
The portals of the watches and the grates.
Elisha saw the vision of Your hates
And loves abound above the Jordan’s stream.
But I see only sparkling on the dream
Of Your images wrought on nothing’s weights.
When Your reality breaks in the dare
Of splinters on the rocky even stair,
Let me see like Elisha the shine there
And find the path on earth enough to bear
Me up toward the golden city gates.

15 And when the prophets’ sons in view
At Jericho saw him, they said
“The spirit of Elijah’s spread
On Elisha.” And they went out
To meet him and bowed themselves stout
On the ground before him as led.
16 And they said to him “See here now,
We have got fifty strong men, vow
To let them go, please, and search for
Your master, lest YHWH’s spirit bore
Him and put him down on some mount,
Or in to valley by a fount.”
And he said “Don’t send anymore.”
17 When they insisted he was shamed
And said “Send then.” They sent acclaimed
Fifty men who searched for three days
But did not find him in their ways.
18 When they returned where he was at
In Jericho, he said out flat,
“Didn’t I tell you not to go?”
And that happened in Jericho.

Even the singers of Your sacred word
Are sometimes led into crafty absurd
By thinking that Your power’s a think like bird.
Remember now, Beloved, it’s not their fault,
Since You Yourself sent out as by default
A raven and a dove from Noah’s ark,
And on this very Jordan came to park
Your power in the form of simple dove.
Beloved, that day what were You thinking of?
I whirl about the wadis and the trench
For three days till I find a wooden bench
To sit upon and hear the heavenly news
Of every preacher not content to choose.
Speak secrets to each lad and each lad’s wench.

19 The men of the city said to
Elisha, “See, please, that the view
Of this city’s pleasant, as you
Sir see, but fresh, sweet water’s few,
And so the ground is barren too.”
20 And he said “Bring me a new jar
And put salt in it.” At instar
They brought it to him. 21 And he went
Out to the water spring and sent
The salt in it and said “So does
YHWH say ‘I’ve healed the spring that was,
And there shall not be from this time
Any more death or barren clime.’”
22 And so the waters then were healed
To this day by the saying sealed
Elisha spoke in song and rhyme.

The Sufi orders of that day were wild
In working miracles for every child.
The dervishes’ main task it seems was then
To sing Your Scriptures in the ears of men
And in the hidden pastures of Your grove.
The dervishes were known to meet the drove
With medicine and miracle to make
The world a better place for Your name’s sake.
Instead of catching me up in the air
Each day to meet with Enoch and the fair,
Put in my hand a blessing and a care
To heal the turgid waters in the glare
Of hate and poison and drought that comes near
The towns and cities where I keep my gear.

23 He went from there to Bethel and
As he was walking on the land,
There came a gang of youths to stand
Outside the city, making fun
Of him and told him on the run,
“Rise up, bald head, up in the sky!”
24 He turned around to ask them why,
And cursed them in YHWH’s name, and there
Came from the woods bears in a pair
And killed forty-two young folks there.
25 He went from there to mount Carmel,
And then Samaria’s Israel.

The weakness of the dervish count today
Is simply because in their loving way
They’ve taken to the gangs’ songs in their sway
Of rock and roll to pave the narrow clay.
If any dervish said a curse to lower
The criminal approach to reaper, sower
Along the paths of this world’s raptured knower,
The readers of Hafiz’ and Rumi’s bin
Would rise up to condemn so gross a sin.
That’s why today the masters are confined
To repeating what’s on the loving mind
And so support the pecking order’s bind.
Beloved, I lay a curse and lay it well,
But not openly like Elisha’s spell.

2 KINGS 3

1 Now Jehoram son of Ahab
Began his reign in Israel’s drab
Samaria the eighteenth year
Of Jehoshaphat king to fear
In Judah and he reigned twelve year.
2 And he did wickedly before
YHWH, but not like his father’s crew
And like his mother, since he put
Away the image of the root
Of Baal his father made for soot.
3 And yet he stuck beside the sins
Of Jeroboam for his wins,
The son of Nebat, one who made
Israel to sin, in them he stayed.
4 And Mesha king of Moab had
Many sheep at which he’s not bad,
And gave Israel’s king tribute in
A hundred thousand lambs, and in
A hundred thousand woolly rams.
5 But it happened that in time’s cams
When Ahab died, king of Moab
Rebelled against Israel’s king’s grab.
6 The king Jehoram went out of
Samaria that time of glove
And counted all Israel above.
7 And he went and sent to the king
Jehoshaphat of Judah’s ring,
Saying “The king of Moab’s come
Rebellious against me, the bum.
Will you go with me up to fight
Against Moab?” And he said “Right,
I’ll go up, you and I, my folk
Are as your folk, and every yoke
Of my horses as your own sprite.”

A hundred thousand sheep and rams are quite
A booty and temptation for a wight
Like Moab’s king to set rebellion rolling.
It’s not a simple party out for bowling.
So many sheep in tribute I would think
Enough to feed Kuwait all at the brink.
No wonder the kings disagreed to toe
The line of what their fathers did in show.
Beloved, I have no sheep at all to take,
And not a single ram that is awake,
But of my wealth I hardly keep a score,
And You no doubt relieve me of the store.
My lambs are scudding clouds above the shore,
My wool is dandelion hair on lake.

8 And he said “Which way shall we go?”
And he answered, “Through Edom’s row.”
9 And so the king of Israel went,
And the king of Judah as sent,
And the king of Edom, and they
Went round in journey seven day.
And there was not enough to drink
For the army and cattle’s link.
10 And Israel’s king said “Oh alas,
YHWH’s gathered these three kings to pass
Into the hand of Moab crass!”
11 And said Jehoshaphat, “Is there
Not here a prophet in YHWH’s care
By whom we might enquire of YHWH?”
And one of Israel’s king’s slaves said
In answer, “Here’s Elisha bred
Of Shaphat, who poured water on
The hands of Elijah when drawn.
12 And so then said Jehoshaphat,
“The word of YHWH is where he sat.”
So Israel’s king, Jehoshaphat
And Edom’s king went where he’s at.
13 Elisha said to Israel’s king,
“What do I have, if anything,
To do with you? Go to the hand
Of your father’s prophets in band
And to your mother’s prophets scanned.”
And Israel’s king said to him, “No,
For YHWH’s gathered these three kings’ show
To give them in Moab’s hand’s row.
14 Elisha said “As YHWH of hosts
Lives, before whom I stand in boasts,
Surely were it not that I see
The presence of the king in fee
Of Judah, king Jehoshaphat,
I wound not look to where you’re at.

Elisha simply is not even kind
And polite to a king, and such I find
Does not meet protocol or standard of
Political correctness for a shove.
Of course the king is first to say You made
The three kings to come out to be afraid,
Which does not show much confidence in You.
Perhaps that’s why Elisha thought words due.
Beloved, I take example from the prophet
And when I see such kings I mind to scoff at
Them for their lack of grace in standing firm
By Your commandments set out for the term.
If any like Jehoshaphat are brave,
I’ll give such presidents a nod and wave.

15 “But now bring me a harper. So
It happened when the harper’d go
To play, the hand of YHWH came on
Him in word of prophecy drawn.
16 And he said “So says YHWH, ‘Make this
Valley full of ditch not to miss.’
17 “For so says YHWH, ‘You’ll not see dew
Of wind nor rain, yet that valley
Shall be filled with water to be,
So you may drink, both you and your
Cattle and your beasts on the shore.’
18 “And that’s not all that YHWH will do,
He’ll give the Moabites to you.
19 “And you will strike them every town
Strengthened and every city down,
And you’ll cut down every good tree
And fill up all the springs with scree,
And spoil all the good land with stones
Until Moab is filled with groans.”

The fact is kings enquired of prophets then,
And even came in a band of three men
To ask the leader of a group of singers
What of the water and Your coming stingers.
Today if any president or king
Shows interest in a spiritual thing
It’s going to be muttering and peep
By medium and wizard out to creep
And not the cantillator of Your word
With harp or without for the omen stirred.
Beloved, I find my audience is where
The squirrel sits upon my window there
And peers with wonder at the glowing room
Alive with growing spices, mint and bloom.

21 And when all the Moabites heard
That the kings had come up like turd
To fight against them, they came out
In armour at the border stout.
22 And they got up at break of dawn
To see the sun shining upon
The water, and the Moabites
Saw the water there in their sights
As red as blood. 23 And so they said
“This is blood and the kings are dead,
And they’ve killed each other instead,
Now then, Moab, collect the bread.”

The rosy dawn that shines at morning by
My window from the lake up to the sky
Sometimes makes lake turn to a pot of gold
And sometimes to blood colouring and bold,
But never is the store of life and cold
Metal worth more than what the moments hold.
So Moab erred in thinking that the dawn
Red on the fields of water and soon gone
Was death to king Jehoshaphat and those
Two kings who joined him in the warring rows.
All that glitters is not gold, no, nor blood,
All that is red and bright’s not ruby stud,
And yet I find about me everywhere
The gems that others think are only air.

24 And when they came to Israel’s camp,
The Israelites got up like lamp
Attacking the Moabites so
They fled before them on the go,
But they came on to the attack
Against the Moabites in track
As far as their country and back.
25 And they beat down the cities there,
And on each good piece of land’s share
Each man throw down his stone to fill
It and they stopped each water rill,
And cut down all the best of trees,
Only in Kirharaseth please
They left its stones, and yet they went
With slingers round it, struck and bent.
26 And when the king of Moab saw
That battle was beyond his paw,
He took with him seven hundred men
With swords in hand to break again
Up to the king of Edom, but
They could not for the way was shut.
27 Then he took his eldest son who
Should have reigned in his place as due,
And offered him burnt offering on
The wall. And a great anger’s spawn
Fell against Israel, and they left
Each into his own land and cleft.

Even the lords of Philistines were shocked
When Moab’s king offered his son and rocked
The heathen world of worship with the fate
Of the firstborn as promised soon and late.
When in distress every fond head of state
Still finds a sacrifice of small or great
To distract public from his own sins’ share.
And still shocked Israel disappear in air.
Beloved, the sacrifice of son and loved
Or of the enemy and leaden gloved
Goes on behind the closed doors where the fine
Come together to drink the oil and wine.
I find the traces of the sacrifice
Set out in thousands of new plates of rice.

2 KINGS 4

1 There cried a certain woman who
Was wife of one of the sons crew
Of the prophets to Elisha,
Saying “Your servant and the pa
Of my two sons is dead, and you
Know that your servant had feared YHWH,
The creditor has come to take
My two sons bondsmen for his sake.”
2 Elisha told her, “What can I
Do for you? Tell me what is nigh
In your house?” And she said “Your maid
Has nothing in the house that stayed
Except a pot of oil.” 3 Then he
Said “Go and borrow what you see
Of pots from all your neighbours, all
That are empty and bring in stall
Not few but many, that is all.
4 “And when you’ve finished, shut the door
With you and your sons, start to pour
Out into all those pots and set
Aside the full ones when they’re met.”
5 So she went from him, shut the door
Upon herself and sons in store,
Who brought her pots for her to pour.
6 It happened when the pots were full
She said to her son capable,
“Bring me one more pot,” But he said
To her “There’s not a single spread.”
And so the oil came out no more.
7 She came and told the man of God.
And he said “Go and sell the rod
Of oil and pay your debt and live
You and your children with the laive.”

Elisha of all prophets is exception,
Even better than You with no surreption.
He tells the woman exactly what he
Hopes to accomplish now miraclely.
He does not make like Elijah and say
Give me your last cake and then die today,
After which in surprise he works a ray.
No, he tells her he’ll fill the pots with oil
As many as she wishes for the spoil.
Her faith is shown in just how many pots
She gathers for the pouring in their slots.
She calculates enough to pay her debt,
But greed did not come in to what she set
Beyond that for her daily living’s toil.

8 It happened when Elisha passed
One day by Shunem a high-classed
Woman made him stop there to eat.
And so as often as his feet
Went there he stopped in for a treat.
9 And she said to her husband, “See,
I notice what holy degree
Is on this man of Ælohim
Who comes past us always to team.
10 “Let’s make a little room I beg
On the wall and to rest his leg
Set there for him a bed and chair
And table and candlestick there,
So when he comes by us he’ll stay
In that place and not go his way.”

Itinerant preachers are well nigh gone,
And those there are try to get home by dawn.
I’ve heard of such men come to get the cream
Of service from the milkmaids in their dream.
I’ve heard the tale of Laestadian preacher
Who found time in the night for fellow creature,
A servant girl in every farmhouse where
He stopped to feed his face and then to share
Your word with host and family, I swear
I’m glad itinerant preachers are rare.
Preacher or not, when I had house and fold
In city centre, I too was one bold
To bring the traveler in to meal and bed
After he’d said his piece, after he’d fed.

11 It happened on a day he came
There and turned in the room to claim
A rest there. 12 And he told his slave
Gehazi, “Call this Shunammite.”
And when he’d called her with a wave,
She stood before him in his sight.
13 He said to him, “Now tell her, ‘See,
You’ve been hospitable and free,
So what can I do in return?
Speak to the king or general?’”
She answered, “I am pleased to dwell
Among my own folk Israel.”
14 And he said then, “What’s to be done?”
Said Gehazi, “She has no son,
And her husband’s old by the sun.
15 And he said “Summon her again.”
And when he called her, she came then
And stood in the door of the den.
16 And he said “Near a year from now
According to life’s time somehow
You will embrace a son.” And she
Said, “No, sir, please don’t lie to me.”
17 And the woman conceived and bore
A son the time Elisha swore
To her, according to life’s score.

The tales of Hajji Bektash and the race
Of his apostles told in every place
Reveal the penchant in the dervish trace
For leaving children to be born where none
Had been seen there before under the sun.
A pregnant grain of wheat or prayer’s enough
To shake a woman up and not be gruff.
Elisha, let us say, had hand to do
The miracle and still be righteous too,
But those who follow in his wake have ways
More devious to get a child for praise.
The wonder and the miracle that sound
In rainbows and in joys upon the ground
Are turned to crust when churches bring their phase.

18 And when the child was grown one day
He went out to his father’s way
Among the reapers. 19 And he said
To his father, “My head, my head.”
And he said to a servant lad,
“Carry him to his mum, too bad.”
20 When he took him and brought him back
To his mum, he sat on her lap
Till noon, and then he died, alack.
21 And she went up and laid mayhap
Him on the bed of man of God,
And locked him in and went abroad.
22 And she called to her husband, said
“Send me please one servant and led
One of the donkeys so I can
Go out and return with God’s man.”
23 And he said “Why go there today?
It’s not the first of month or day
Of the Sabbath.” And she said “Stay.”
24 She saddled up a donkey then
And said to her servant, “Drive then
As fast as you can, do not wait
For me unless I tell you late.”

So folk were wont to find Elisha’s seat
At first of month and for the Sabbath treat.
That’s a good thing to know. I wonder if
The occasion was legal, formal, stiff
As they claim now who say the Sabbath law
Was nailed onto the cross by Roman claw
And so we’re freed from all its blessings now
And may be oppressed by eater of sow
On each and every day in weekly round.
There is no day now when the boss is found
To have no right to boss us to the ground.
But in those lovely days before the cross
There still were limitations on the boss.
Beloved, I hanker back from freedom’s loss.

25 So she went and came to the man
Of Ælohim upon the span
Of mount Carmel. It happened when
The man of Ælohim saw her
At a distance, he did aver
To Gehazi his servant, “See
That Shunammite arrives finely.
26 “Run now please to meet her and say
‘Is all well with you and in way
Of your husband, and with the child?’
She answered “It’s well” reconciled.
27 When she arrive up on the hill
To the man of Ælohim still,
She caught him by the feet, then came
Gehazi to push off in blame.
Then said the man of Ælohim,
“Let her alone, for it would seem
Her soul’s afflicted in her, and
YHWH’s hidden it from eye and hand.”

The prophet knows by Your permission what
Is in the heart of every man and shut
Within the soul of every woman that
Comes in his view, and yet at times You make
The anguish of one soul for Your own sake
And for no other. Note that You are not
The only secretive one in the plot.
The woman does not tell the father that
The boy is dead and lying on his mat.
The tragedies that You deal with above
My unknowing, expressions of Your love,
Move out across the vast expanse of sky.
And yet I’m unconscious of who may die,
Or who may live, sitting here in Your wake.

28 Then she said “Did I beg a son
Of my lord? Did I not when done
Say ‘Don’t lie to me?’” 29 Then he said
To Gehazi, “Get ready, take
My staff in your hand and then make
Your way and if you meet a man,
Do not greet him and if by plan
Any should greet you do not say
A word in answer, and then lay
My staff on the face of the child.”
30 Then the mother not reconciled
Said “As YHWH lives and so your soul,
I will not leave you.” He took toll
And followed her. 31 Gehazi passed
On before them and laid amassed
The staff on the face of the child,
But there was no sound nor a stir.
So he went back to meet the fer,
And told him saying “The child’s not
Awakened at all from his plot.”

Why did the child not respond to the wand
Of Elisha as sent by servant frond?
Perhaps he spoke a greeting on the path
And hid the matter from his master’s wrath.
Perhaps the power of healing and of faith
That is a true thing not in hand of wraith
Becomes a false and twisted evil mask
When brought in hand of those who dream to bask.
Beloved, I take the prophet’s staff and run
And feel the heat and burning of the sun
On head and back, and know that in my lack
The child is sleeping still as in my slack
I lay upon his face the clasping wood.
Beloved, let me at least run to some good.

32 Elisha came to the house, see,
The child was dead, laid on his bed.
33 And so he went in there softly
And shut the door on both as led
And prayed to YHWH for what should be.
34 He went up and lay on the child
And put his mouth where his mouth smiled,
His eyes on his eyes, and his hands
On his hands, and he stretched his bands
On the child and the child’s flesh came
Warm. 35 Then he got up from the game
And walked back and forth in the room,
And went up again and stretched bloom
On him and the child sneezed seven times,
And the child opened his eyes’ dimes.
36 He summoned Gehazi and said
“Call this Shunammite woman bred.”
So he called her, and when she came
There to him, he said “Take your claim.”
37 She went and fell down at his feet
Bowed herself to the ground to meet,
And took up her son and went out.
And that was the end of that bout.

In cases of the kind this form of help,
Mouth to mouth resuscitation of whelp,
Ought not to do a thing to bring him back.
The story’s deformed, just a rumour’s crack
At something that happened in truth or yet
A miracle in fact where doubters met.
To warm the flesh already cold in death
Shows that some hours have passed and without breath.
Beloved, I breathe and know I die each time
I exhale from a lung filled up with rhyme,
And come to life again to feel Your kiss
Of oxygen fall once more on abyss
Of knowing and unknowing and the dark
Recedes from my eyes glowing in the park.

38 Elisha came back to Gilgal,
With a dearth in the land for sal,
And the sons of the prophets sat
Before him, and he told him pat,
His servant, “Set on the great pot
And make some soup and make it hot
For the sons of the prophets lot.”
39 And one man went out in the field
To gather foodstuffs of its yield
And found a wild vine and he took
From it wild gourds into his hook,
And came and cut them in the pot
Of soup, because they knew them not.
40 They dished it up for all to eat.
And as they all ate of the treat,
They cried out and said “Man of God,
The pot contains a poisoned pod.”
And so they could not eat the treat.
41 And he said “Then bring meal.” He threw
It into the pot, told the crew,
“Dish it up for the people so
They can eat it and not be slow.”
And there was no harm in the pot,
And so ended that frightful plot.

My hand, Beloved, shreds pumpkin on my gruel
With stainless steel for my best shredding tool,
And lays the poisoned prayer upon the rate
Of my prostrations for a fatal wait.
My searching in the treasure field of song
Unearths the gems that seem bright for the wrong.
Each effort to avail ends in rebuke:
My life despite all effort is a spook.
Beloved, cast in Your meal of grace and change
The good things that appear within my range
From poison to the nourishment I need
To cantillate again Your word with greed.
Beloved, serve up the meal-bred soup again
And I shall join my force with other men.

42 There came a man from Baalshalisha,
And brought the man of Ælohim
Bread of the firstfruits it would seem,
Twenty loaves of barley to kiss you,
And ripe ears of corn in the husk.
And he said “Give the folk at dusk
So they can eat honey and musk.”
43 The waiter said “What? Shall I set
This before a hundred men met?”
And he said again, “Give the folk,
So they can all eat at a stroke,
For so says YHWH, ‘They all will eat
And leave leftovers of the treat.’”
44 So he served them and they did eat
And left some as YHWH called the feat.

It’s hardly fair, Beloved, so many know
The tale of Jesus done before his woe
When he fed the five thousand on the go.
He did not tread the path alone to bring
The bread and fish upon the stones to sing.
He had example of Elisha done
To feed the multitude beneath the sun.
Beloved, Your wonders breathe and then repeat
So often that the human heart’s replete
With awe before the rushing stream to find
The ocean of Your love not out of mind.
I bring an ear in husk, I bring a groat
And find that ocean’s there here where I float
As though the earth and sky were greater feat.

2 KINGS 5

1 Now Naaman who was army chief
For the king of Syria’s relief
Was a great man before the king,
And honourable as anything,
Because by him YHWH had allowed
Syria great victories in crowd,
A mighty man and surely brave,
But because of leprosy grave.
2 The Syrians gone out in band
Had brought as captive from the land
Of Israel a little lass
Who served Naaman’s wife plate and glass.
3 And she said to her mistress, “If
Only my master for a sniff
Were by prophet of Ælohim,
He’d cure him of leprosy’s scream.”
4 And someone went and told his lord,
Saying “So said the maid here floored
That’s here from Israel’s land by sword.”
5 And Syria’s king said, “Go then, go,
And I’ll send a letter with bow
To Israel’s king.” And so he left
And took along ten talents cleft
Of silver and six thousand bits
Of gold, and ten changes of fits.

A servant girl perhaps with just a word
Changed the course of earth’s history. It occurred
That kings moved and removed because she spoke
A whispered sigh between her labour’s stroke.
If that seems strange as cog in fortune’s wheel,
Think of the master who would make appeal.
He was one who could say a word to kings
And risk the wrath of prophets in ravings,
And yet he was one that inspired the love
Of a slave maiden whose heart’s sighings of
Hopefulness thought of him and wished him well.
How many servants now are there to tell
Who might remember their masters that way?
I’ve seen even good masters’ anger’s sway.

6 And he brought the note to the king
Of Israel, and said a thing,
“Now when you get this letter see,
I’ve sent Naaman with leprosy,
My servant so you’ll set him free.”
7 It happened when Israel’s king read
The letter, that he tore his spread
Of clothing and at last he said
“Am I Ælohim that I kill
And make alive as by my will,
That this man sends someone to me
To cure him of his leprosy?
Consider please what he’s about
Seeking a quarrel and a rout.”

Contrast the concern of the king with that
Of the slave maiden on her working mat.
The one is filled with fear and quarrelling
And ready to combat the other king
If only arms enough provide the sting.
The other bowed with labour and with care,
Too tired to sleep sometimes is there to share
The feelings and the sorrows of the wife
And master that oppress her little life.
Her thoughts are for her mother living still
Perhaps somewhere upon Samarian hill,
The comfort of the woman that she serves,
The health and happiness of others’ nerves.
Tell me which of the two’s a better thrill?

8 When Elisha the man of God
Heard that Israel’s king at the prod
Had torn his clothes, he sent the king
Saying “Why do you do this thing?
Let him now come to me to know
A prophet stands in Israel’s show.”
9 Naaman went with chariot and horse,
And he stood at the door in course
Of Elisha’s house. 10 And he sent,
Elisha did, a messenger
To him, saying what should occur,
“Go wash in Jordan seven times,
And your flesh shall be from its crimes
Restored to you, and you’ll be clean.”

The only example in Hebrew text
Of proselyte’s baptism is perplexed
By the number of times to make the show.
The Chosen Vessels mission’s only glow
Was seven dips, and in that they were right
Despite the fact they are not now in sight.
Three dips are found in Judaism now,
And so the German Baptists dip a frau,
And Eastern Orthodox still know the way
To baptize with three dips instead of spray.
I wonder if those slobbered on or held
Beneath the water are clean from the spelled.
The Decalogue knows no dips, and Qur’an
Says You’re the best of baptizers of spawn.

11 But Naaman was mad, on the scene,
In anger went away and said
“I truly told myself instead,
‘He will surely come out to me,
And stand and call upon the name
Of YHWH his Ælohim, and aim
His hand upon the place, and he
Will heal me of my leprosy.’
12 “Are not Abana and Pharpar,
Rivers of Damascus now far
Better than all of Israel’s streams?
May I not wash in them, it seems,
And be clean?” He left in a rage.
13 And came near him servant and page
And spoke to him and said “My father,
If the prophet had told you bother
To do some great thing, would you not
Have done the great thing on the spot?
How much more rather then when he
Says to you ‘Wash for purity?’”
14 Then he went down and dipped himself
Seven times in the Jordan shelf,
As he was told by man of God,
And his flesh came alive in pod
Like the flesh of a little child,
And was well from the illness wild.

The rage of men and women in this place
Of shadows and fears is to run a race
Out of the water as fast as they can
And keep their leprosy down to a man.
How many stay to dip themselves that way,
Slowly and seven times and rise to pray?
At most three times the faithful want to come,
And that is why their sin remains. The hum
Of flight from faith is not because You take
Only those who have been washed in the wake
Of seven waves, but because those who start
Up from the pool do so because their heart
Is not wholly given to You. Your grace
Though infinite, requires repentance’ trace.

15 He went back to the man of God,
He and all his company’s bod,
And came and stood before him and
Said “See, I know in all the land
There is no God, but Israel’s God,
So now then please take from the hand
Of your servant a blessing’s nod.”
16 And he said “As YHWH lives before
Whom I stand, I shall take no store.”
And he urged him to take it then
But he refused it once again.

This is the one criterion to hold
To know whether a prophet’s in the cold
Or one of Your’s. Of course You gave the heel
To those who defied Sinai’s law’s appeal,
And those whose prophecies were made in vain
So nothing that they spoke happened to rain.
But prophets of Your love and word today
Who recite all Your Scriptures the right way
Are known because they do not take reward,
But rely on Your keeping and Your sword.
Beloved, I cantillate each Sabbath morn
Your Scriptures without pay, and as forlorn
Look out upon the wilderness of food
Enough to keep alive a hungry brood.

17 And Naaman said “Shall not your man
Servant I beg you have two span
Of mules’ load of earth? For your man
Servant from now on will not make
Burnt offering nor sacrifice stake
To any other gods but to
The Ælohim of Israel YHWH.
18 In this one thing may YHWH forgive
Your servant, that when my lord live
To go into Rimmon’s house and
To worship there, leaned on my hand,
I bowed myself in Rimmon’s room,
When I bowed down myself for doom
In Rimmon’s house, let YHWH forgive
Your servant for this thing and live.”
19 And he told him, “Go in Islam.”
So he went a way singing Psalm.

I too go in Islam, having made peace
With You, Beloved, and for my sins’ release
Look to Your grace alone, not sacrifice
Beyond the small death in baptism’s slice
In seven dips in Jordan’s heavy flood.
I do not drink or eat or sprinkle blood
From Your sent one upon my bread and wine.
I do not sacrifice oxen and kine.
Instead I flee to that submission dressed
From Abraham that Elisha confessed
Upon Naaman, and bow upon the sod
That he sent with the captain and his rod.
Two mules’ load of earth from the promised land
Give me place for prayerful forehead and hand.

20 And said Gehazi to himself,
Elisha God’s man’s serving elf,
“See how my master spares this man
This Naaman and this Syrian,
Not taking what his hands have brought,
But as YHWH lives, I’ll run till caught
And take something from him I’ve sought.”
21 Gehazi followed Naaman’s band,
And when Naaman saw on the land
Running after him, he got down
From the chariot without frown
To meet him and asked “Is all well?”
22 And he said “Truly all is well.
My master’s sent me saying ‘See,
Just now two young men came to me
From mount Ephraim, of prophets’ sons,
Give them please silver for their buns
And two changes of clothes for free.”
23 And Naaman said “Rather take two
Talents of silver (one’s so few),”
And he urged him and tied up two
Talents of silver in two pokes,
With two changes of fine new cloaks,
And gave them to two of his men
To carry them for him again.

See, my Beloved, how generous are those
Who have received Your blessings to give clothes
And silver to the dishonest who make
A presentation for Your name and sake!
The devout Catholic is not slack to put
A penny in the pot, it adds a foot
Sometimes in charity to feed the poor.
The Protestant is less of a good doer,
But still is frank in turning up pounds, pence
Despite his not having very good sense.
Beloved, let me give silver straight in hand
To the one who needs it upon the land
And not trust mongers who know how the get
A profit from my love to You first met.

24 And when he came back to the tower
He took them from their hand and power
And hid them in the house and then
He let the men go back again.
25 And he went in and stood before
His master. And Elisha swore
To him, “Where did you come from now
Gehazi?” He said with a bow,
“I didn’t go outside the door.”
26 And he said to him, “Didn’t my
Heart follow you there on the sly
When the man turned back from his car
To meet you? Is it a time’s star
To get money, clothes, oliveyards,
Vineyards and sheep and oxen pards,
And menservants and maids, by gar?
27 “So Naaman’s leprosy shall stick
To you and your children to pick
For ever.” And he went out from
His presence a leper in sum
As white as the snow that has come.

Your prophet knows the secret passage found
By false servants and shepherds on the ground.
You show the wicked path under the sun
To those who represent Your will be done.
It’s not a time to gain silver and cloak,
It’s not a time to trace the awful oak
To oliveyards and vineyards where the best
Of sheep and oxen come to take a rest.
It’s time instead to proclaim You are one
To the civil servant and captain won
From their idolatry, who find a place
Beside the idol-worshipper in grace
To bow indeed in temple made of bars,
And yet worship only You under stars.

2 KINGS 6

1 The sons of the prophets said to
Elisha, “See, the house where you
And we live is too small for crew.
2 “So let’s go please to Jordan’s stream
And take from there each man a beam,
And let us build us a place there
Where we can stay without a care.”
And he answered, “Go do your share.”
3 And someone said, “I wish you’d go
Down with your servants for the show.”
And he answered him, “I will go.”
4 So he went with them. When they came
To Jordan, they cut each his claim.
5 But as one man cut down a tree,
The axehead slipped, fell splashingly,
And he cried and said “Master, oh,
It was a borrow domino.”
6 And the man of Ælohim said
“Where did it fall?” And so he spread
His hands toward the place, then he
Cut off a stick and threw quickly
Into the river and the iron
Floated up like following siren.
7 So he said “Catch it.” and he stretched
Out his hand and the axehead fetched.

Two miracles reported here are known:
That iron floated on the Jordan and
That when the prophets went out in a band
They did not want to go to work alone,
But wanted Elisha to chaperone.
That says a lot about a man in hand
Who had two she-bears under his command
And with them killed forty young men unblown.
Beloved, a greater miracle than floating
Axehead is that other young people noting
Excursions are more fun when baldhead deigns
To grace them with his presence count their gains
When bald Elisha says that he will come
I don’t think they predicted axehead’s hum.

8 The king of Aram came to war
Against Israel, and took up for
His servants counsel, saying thus
“In such and such a place for worse
Shall be my camp.” 9 The man of God
Sent to the king of Israel prod
Saying, “Watch out and don’t go near
Such and such a place, for the fear
Of Syrians hiding in the rear.”
10 And Israel’s king sent to the place
That Ælohim’s man marked by grace
And warned him of, and took his guard
Not once or twice in that regard.

Who disregard the sermons once sent down
To Your prophets and hear them with a frown
Are often men of state and war who might
Welcome informer prophet with delight.
Your hidden ones today no doubt appeal
To president and prime minister’s heel
With good advice to work the woe and weal
Of such events for now that meet the sight.
Unrecognized Your representative
Engages politicians where they live,
And what seems filled with only greed and plot
Is often transfigured behind the sought.
Your finger rests upon the plans of men
To foil the evil time and time again.

11 That’s why the king of Syria’s heart
Was greatly troubled for its part,
And he called his servants and said
To them, “Won’t you reveal the spread
Of which of us is spying for
The king of Israel at the door?”
12 One of his servants said “My lord,
None of us is a spy deplored,
O king, but Elisha the prophet
That’s in Israel will always cough it
Up even the word that you speak
In your own bedroom and with cheek.”

Even the servants of the king of greed
Sometimes know better than the holy seed
The workings of Your hand upon the earth.
Sometimes a wisdom lies beneath their mirth.
More often, I trow with my doubting heart,
The accusation of the divine part
Is born of superstition and the ray
Of New Age surmisings in iron and clay.
Beloved, the round of human thought and eye
Is fleet to find a pattern in the sky,
And yet the world is not fast in the claw
Of what we picture in the wakened maw.
Your revelation penetrates the sound
Of the earth spinning round and round and round.

13 And he said “Go and take a look
Where he’s at, and I’ll send a hook
And fetch him.” So they told him then
“See now, the man is in Dothan.”
14 So he sent horses, chariots and
A great army that came to stand
Against the city in the night.
15 And when the servant of the wight
Man of Ælohim got up bright
And early and went out, see there,
An army besieged the town where
There stood both horses and a fleet
Of chariots ready in the street.
And his servant said to him, “Oh,
My master, how shall we now go?”
16 He answered him, “Don’t be afraid,
For those with us are more arrayed
Than those of them who came and stayed.”
17 Elisha prayed and said “YHWH, I
Beg you to open up the eye
So he may see.” And YHWH did that,
And opened the young man’s eyes flat,
And he saw, and see on the hill
Was full of horses and the shrill
Of fiery chariots round about
The place where Elisha stood stout.

My eyes have been opened upon the mount
Where I came quietly to take an account,
And what I saw was not the fire and flame
Of angels bent on vengeance in Your name,
But the same sun that comes anew at dawn
And the same colours that I thought were gone
Forever at a stake. My eyes still make
Appearance of the heavenly cloudy wake
Of mercy strewn across a troubled sky.
My eyes have seen the angels passing by.
Beloved, as red and gold turn worsted grey,
And morning melodies settle to day,
My open eyes see in the daily round
The miracles that always can be found.

18 And when they came down to him, then
Elisha prayed YHWH, “Smite these men,
I beg, with blindness.” And He struck
Them with blindness and at the cluck
Of Elisha. 19 Elisha said
To them, “This is not where you’re led
The way or the city, but stay
Behind me, and I’ll show the way
To the man you are looking for.”
He brought them to Samaria’s door.
20 It happened when they had arrived
Into Samaria, he contrived,
Elisha did, and so he said
“YHWH, open their eyes whom I’ve led,
That they may see.” And so YHWH did
Open up their eyes and eyelid,
And they saw and see they were there
In middle of Samaria fair.
21 And Israel’s king when he saw them,
Said to Elisha, “Father gem,
Shall I strike them, shall I strike them?”
22 He answered, “You shall not kill now,
Would you kill such as captive bow
Before your sword and arrows set?
Put bread and water till they get
Enough to eat and drink and then
Go back to their master like men.”
23 And he prepared for them a feast,
And when they’d eat and drunk increased,
He sent them back and they went to
Their master. So the Syrian crew
Did not come back to Israel’s land.

See here, Beloved, the way that prophets climb.
They always lead blind men in merry mime.
They never take the seeker where he’s due,
And into the places of guru pew,
But lead the men in fairy chase and find
Them captive in their enemies’ house blind.
See here, Beloved, how prophets always act,
And it’s because their humour is intact,
That when the human heart in serious mission
Is searching for the one under suspicion,
He tracks them all out of the way to go
And brings them to a feast and rowdy show.
Send me no prophets, my Beloved, and I
Shall not have weapons in the field to spy.

24 After this it happened at hand
That Benhadad gathered his band
As king of Syria and went out
Against Samaria about.
25 Samaria was famine stricken,
And see how they besieged it thicken
Until a donkey’s head was sold
For eighty silver pieces cold,
And quarter of a piece of poop
Of pigeon for five silver coup.

Some say that pigeon poop is really just
The name they gave in humour for a crust
Of garlic. I am not so good at talk
To say whether that’s true in Hebrew stock.
In any case the price of food was great
So that the poor suffered the harder fate
As always happens when the kings step out
To try their arms against each other’s rout.
Beloved, a donkey’s head is not my cue
For pleasant meals before which I thank You.
A donkey’s head is rather for the sound
Of blaring plunder on the village round.
I tighten belt and come to You to find
If there is aught to eat when You are kind.

26 And as the king of Israel
Was walking on the wall a spell,
A woman shouted to him saying
“Help, my lord king, from the gainsaying.”
27 And he said “If YHWH does not help
You, how shall I give more than yelp
Out of the silo or wine cellar?”
28 And the king asked her, “Tell a fellow
What’s wrong?” She answered, “See, my mate,
This woman said to me of late,
‘Give up your son that we may eat
Him for today, and then complete
The eating of my son tomorrow.’
29 “So we boiled my son, ate in sorrow,
And I said to her the next day,
‘Give up your son and have our way
To eat him.’ But she hid her son.”
30 It happened when the king had done
Heard the words of the woman, that
He tore his clothing where he sat
Upon the wall, and the folk looked,
And there was sackcloth underhooked
Upon his body. 31 Then he said
“God do me in and more if yet
If Elisha’s head shall stay set
On Shaphat’s son on this day met.”
32 But Elisha sat in his room,
The elders with him to presume,
And the king sent a man out from
Him, but before the man could come
To him, he told the elders, “See
How this son of murder makes free
To send and take away my head?
See, when the messenger is led
In, shut the door, and hold him fast
At the door, is not the sound cast
Of his master’s feet coming last?”
33 And while he was still saying that,
The messenger came where he sat,
And then said “Truly tragedy
Like this is from YHWH, why should be
My hope in YHWH eternally?”

I understand the king. I too would fly
Off in wrath if a woman that passed by
In my kingdom brought me such a complaint.
I too would howl against sinner and saint.
The king had seen Elisha perform things
That made the miracles of divine kings
Seem pale and flimsy. So why did
He not stop all the suffering under lid?
He might have said the word and armies fail.
He might have touched stones and make them avail
As bread and cake. And yet he sits among
His friends and recites Scripture, tones well sung.
I understand the anger of the king
Better indeed, Beloved, than anything.


AUTHOR: THOMAS G. MCELWAIN

Copyright © 2007 Adams & McElwain Publishers and Thomas McElwain First Published in two volumes, The Beloved and I 2005, and Led of the Beloved, 2006. Second Edition, 2010 Third and revised edition, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this verse commentary on the sacred Scriptures may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from publisher.

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