Creaturely Rumination

Jude’s Saturday Symphony #8 in which Jude poses the following question: What animal do you most relate to or admire, and why?  Fandango’s #FOWC: “covered”

 

Creaturely Rumination

So you want to know what animal I admire?

This of my ponderous thoughts you require

And, my friend, I’ll acquiesce to your request,

I’ve got you covered!  My answer, no jest,

Thus plainly is: the creature meriting such love

Must be as wise as a snake and harmless as a dove.

 

Aha, you say! That’s two creatures, not one!

But appearances deceive, especially those human,

And under one skin can reside two creatures:

Two snakes, two doves, doubles in their features

Twice wise and as deadly or twice haplessly unwary

Equally alarming as their fortunes they miscarry.

 

Think now of a creature, a lamb or a dove, so harmless, so mild

But wise, like a snake, and knowing, a man, woman, or child;

One creature who is heeding the law of love from its Author

And the same creature undeceived by the world’s favor or disfavor.

Such a God-fearing creature – oh, could it be you? Could it be me? –

Is the freest of the free, at peace, my friend, with God eternally.

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“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10: 16, ESV)