August 3–9 ❘ Such a Time
Such a Time
Men are usually troublesome,
but Ahasuerus was a natural disaster
who struck without warning.
No one stops a landslide in motion,
as Vashti discovered when crushed
beneath the king’s displeasure.
Then there was Mordecai,
pushing his young cousin forward
in a dangerous beauty contest.
He instructed her to step lightly,
hide her heritage for safety—
then himself refused to bow to Haman.
Would it have killed him
to take a cue from Esther for once?
Once again, the Lord turned
to a faithful woman in the mold
of Eve, Rebekah, Ruth—
even desperate Tamar in her way—
to trick a man into doing
what he should have done all along,
in such a time as this
like every other time
in every other place
since the beginning.
Read more of my poetry at www.facebook.com/latterdaysaintpoetry
Contact me at merrijane.rice@gmail.com
