Bully of Baldhead
He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah
and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.
2 Kings 2:13
A gang of youths jeered at Elisha,
Elijah’s protégé…
“Go on up, you baldhead! Go on up, you baldhead!”
(From 2 Kings 2:23-25)
BULLY OF BALDHEAD
how serious is it to mock the prophet?
before Elisha ventures forth
to Mount Carmel, he calls down a curse
two bears lumber out of the woods
hungry as all git out—
the crunch of youths
forty two wise…
the remaining ran away
by the skin of their scalps
would the bullies change their ways
or change directions—
find satisfying morsels
they tell their parents—
“What did you do son?”
their parents git them too
or does the fool pride
fall from the tree—
father to son
“The Father” looked down
Son nailed to cursèd tree—
all are invited
to leave their sin
at Jesus’ feet—
the cost of salvation
snarled skin, blood, tears,
death— hearts broken
until three days later
who was worried
after dayrise—
two angel bears atop the tomb’s rock
2/1/2022
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