RACHAEL'S CHILDREN

RACHAEL'S CHILDREN

IS THERE EVER A GOOD TIME FOR GOD TO BE BORN
IS THERE EVER A TIME THAT WILL NOT CAUSE PAIN
HE OFTEN THOUGHT THESE THOUGHTS
SITTING WITH THE WOMEN
WHOSE CHILDREN HEROD HAD SLAIN
A THING HE DID OFTEN ON HIS BIRTHDAY

OH NOW THEY WERE CONSOLED
YEARS AND A LIFE LATER

DON'T COME THE TEMPTER HAD SAID
OILY VOICED AS USUAL
PRAISING EVIL NOT AS BAD BUT GOOD
OR EXPEDIENT
DON'T COME NOW

BUT THE EARTH WAS GROANING IN LABOR
AS THE EARTH IS ALWAYS GROANING IN LABOR
THERE IS ALWAYS NEED FOR GOD TO BE BORN

SO THE WOMEN WERE CONTENT TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE
BUT EACH ONE FELT A HOLLOWNESS OF YEARS
THAT HE COULD
BUT COULD NOT FILL
NOR CALL BACK THE WAIL OF RACHAEL
THE WAIL OF RACHAEL
FOR HER CHILDREN

FRANK A. VOLLMER