Workers and Warriors (for the guys at Teen Challenge)
by Derek Hugen, 7-9-04
The bellows of
dinner bells, a blue
haze of men step off of
stoops, hulk down on
Oracle Street distracted only
by moaning bellies.
A sacred cow sizzles
in blood-juice as
offerings to gods
of war. Men carry
pickaxes at half-
mast, had pulled out
their left-side muscles
tossing Jerusalem
walls around with one hand,
building up strongholds while
the second hand stays
true. Sees to the
Red Sea searching
black sails.
No ships now.
No horde of barbarians,
none from Miracle Mile
beating down broken
gates,
needle-eyes in outer walls,
gaps of protection
in crumbled rocks
and stones (disintegrating slowly).
So weapons showed at
workers sides (their eyes
searched horizons).
They do not worry about half-work,
these patched-up Jews. They do not
rely on productivity.
The enemy rises anytime,
spills out a nearby hotel,
spills through walls and into wars.
They keep vigilant,
strong hands at swords,
ready for their chow time, their work,
and their war. |