silas climbs the mountain,

finds his sickle at the top.

judas clings to lonely hills

and sings among the rocks.

ruth is stuck in tired fields

and groans for ample grain, while

mary preens her herds and fields

and cherishes the rain.

paul gets lost on foreign trails

and harasses passers-by.

jonas loses all he loves

and finds peace in the brine.

hagar must obey the law

although the law is wrong.

sarah cleaves her bleeding heart

to hagar's empty song.

jerusalem must have been full

of preachers preaching trust;

bethlehem would crack the glass

and shatter in the dust.