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Writer's pictureNeil Rogers

Time to Dance?


Now Jesus’ message was disguised

In stories by which he surprised

The crooked teachers of the law

Who liked to boast that they were more

Acceptable to God because

They kept the finest micro-clause

Of everything that Moses taught

A cut above the rest they thought


So Jesus told this parable

A fable of life arable

A man, two sons, some land, let’s say

Oh, Cain and Abel starts that way

No, not that one, you’ll get my gist

More Jacob-Esau with a twist

Just listen now, pin back your ears

My story’s packed with fears and tears


The younger son packed up his share

And hit the road without a care

In foreign parts he blew the lot

When all was gone he lost the plot

The life of freedom he desired

Led to a pig-sty it transpired

The porcine stench deep in his clothes

Would make him retch and hold his nose

His father’s servants he despised

Were better treated he surmised

He headed home to demonstrate

His change of heart and to placate

His father’s righteous burning wrath

Please let me tend your cattle trough

But when the father saw his child

Was heading home his heart ran wild


The father knew the boy would come

And sped to greet his wayward son

With lavish hugs he kissed and blessed

And would not hear what he confessed

Go fetch a robe, a ring, some shoes

Today we dance, forget the blues

The calf has reached its sell-by-date

My son is home, let’s celebrate!


The older son to duty bowed

His father’s fields with anger ploughed

Like Cain his sacrifice betrayed

Hypocrisy the game he played

The joyless, heartless reprobate

Had little cause to celebrate

And when the band struck up a tune

This older son began to fume

The father knew he would not come

So went to woo his wayward son

Your brother’s home it’s time to dance

Come join the feast and change your stance

What! Celebrate this son of yours

Who spent your wealth on foreign whores?

Of story’s end there is no trace

Cain or Esau? Hate or grace?

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