passion's alms (Luke 19:28:40)

as you pass by and
recede in the distance,
we gather up all that
we offered in the joy
of the celebration, and
we take them to the
money changers, trading
peace for anger,
glory for betrayal,
shouts for jeers,
cloaks for nails, so
we can offer them
at the right moments
in the coming days.

(c) 2019 Thom M. Shuman

with us?! (John 12:8)

when we keep

the poor at arms' length,

we can see them as victims,

or those who don't know better,

or burdens on society, or

simply worthless losers, rather

than our sisters and brothers

who could enrich our lives

if we truly let 'them'

be a part of 'us'

(c) 2019 Thom M. Shuman