i swear not

"...do not swear...: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.  All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt. 5:34-37, NIV)

i swear not
by the mountain
for i cannot make
more than an anthill
that boasts neither
stature nor grandeur

i swear not
by the ocean
for i cannot fashion
but a teardrop puddle
devoid of all magnificence

i swear not
by the heavens
for therein rests
my Father’s Home
and i am a hapless lamb
humbly bowed and helpless
on the face of the patient earth

i swear not
by the earth
for it is His Footstool
and i am but pale dust
that blows beneath His feet
whose place is found no more

i swear not
by my head
for i am going bald
and i cannot make one hair
white or black
or summon hair today
not to be
gone tomorrow

i swear not
by the mountain
or the ocean
or the heavens
or the earth
which rest hard
upon my weary head

for the anthill
and the tear puddle
and the low earth
and the pale dust
are at best
my wretched confinement
in this amazing universe
on which
i dare not swear
except to swear that
i swear
    not…

© Copyright 2019 April 01
by Clyve A. Bowen♫