Best Herod Poems
Blissfully ignorant and supine,
Lost in the economy line,
voters don’t have a clue
that liberty is through.
Apathy dictates all else is fine.
People keep telling me how foolish I am,
but frankly I don’t give a dam.
I’m going to tell you what I see.
You don’t have to agree with me.
In hatred’s name Moslems prayed at the mosque,
boarded planes and three thousand we lost,
Soon we elected a Moslem president,
his books words and actions self evident.
To prove he was islam’s extremist hero,
He allowed a triumphant mosque at ground zero,
Freedom of religion is what they subtly called it,
by a government that continues to overhaul it.
The American people look on as if still numb,
singing his praises as if deaf and dumb,
while a pseudo democratic uncle Sam,
in a forced health care plan,
continues to turn out liberty’s lights
by destroying other religion’s rights.
Thus the American people’s democracy,
is morphed into a dictatorial hypocrisy.
While blindsided by a frantic economy,
we apathetically lose our autonomy.
Allowed by deaf and blind voters in a loud voice,
Fooled by not freedom but license they call choice,
sly appointment of people who fulfill the plan,
A long range one by the “new” Uncle Sam.
a champion of abortion, killing future contenders
him and Herod; another of the great pretenders.
“Enlightened Americans have one point two children per family,
because of abortion, birth control and contraception
Moslems have seven; which is the anomaly?
We Americans treat babies as an infection.
Laugh if you wish; I’m just exposing the path,
You “enlightened” Americans: you do the math.
Categories:
herod, political, people, people,
Form:
Rhyme
The Beheading of John the Baptist
Inside a dungeon, a man is shackled;
Where instruments are employed to inflict
Pain on him while being interrogated;
To confess to crimes, he did not commit.
Above, a damsel dances for Herod,
A gift of pleasure set by her mother.
In a stupor, he rewards Salome
With John the Baptist’s head on a charger.
Herodias’s revenge from a tyrant’s boast
Of lust for a child lives in infamy;
As John’s disciples mourn his headless corpse.
The living will demand answers from Christ.
And forgiveness for their faults without works,
And want acceptance into paradise.
***
References:
Matthew 14:1-12
Mark 6:14-29
Luke 9:7-9
Categories:
herod, betrayal, bible, christian, education,
Form:
Sonnet
In the river Jordan
you baptized the people,
some were brood of vipers:
pharisees, sadducees -
hey sanna hosanna,
king Herod you opposed.
You were his prisoner -
his servants cut your head.
In spirit you survived,
bashing black pharisees
even in red cassocks.
White cassock will not save
the one with black soul
and be it the vengeance,
hey sanna hosanna -
just punishment of God.
Categories:
herod, religion,
Form:
Free verse
Inside a boisterous tavern,
a-light with drunken gaiety
of spilled ribald laughter,
he quietly sits alone ...
gently cradling his mead darkly
Brooding thoughts of past paid coverings
buzzes inside his head
Talking flies having the faces of the dead
“Have mercy, please”
This haunting cry, they all pled ...
except the halo head ones
“I forgive you”
This they all compassionately say
in time dispersed unison
The self-muted giant rubs his eyes,
still in somber inner disquietude,
at this troubling sight he has seen several times
Witnessing a bright, shining glow,
which radiates all around the tops of those
who call themselves Christian disciples —
before descends the sharp, quieting blow
It is by his liege, Caesar’s command,
to eradicate the scattering vermin radicals,
that he daily swings the severing blade
The duty-bound Herodian executioner
must always stay masked
when the murdering performance ensues
This is by privileged decree:
the entertainment requirement rules
A black cloth covering,
sprinkled with scarlet droplets,
is the terror mask his masters has him use
Rabid crown sycophants love their crucifixions,
the Roman preferred method of capital punishment
But, his under-lord, Herod, still adheres
to the ancient Molech ways —
Death by the beheading blade
Sighing, the brooding giant gazes about the riotous inn
with roaring, unspoken disdain
Even without the ritual Deimos mask on,
all within the tavern knows his occupation,
evidenced by his massive frame
They yield a fearful wide berth to him,
no one sits in the seats around his hulking presence
Looking down at his Pilate-cursed hands,
he sees the blood of the guilty and the innocent
Bloody hands that can’t be washed clean ... never
As long as he raises his arms,
and lets the body-separating blade swing
Categories:
herod, dark, death, judgement, wisdom,
Form:
Narrative
Who killed Christ the Lord?
It was not me said Herod, I did not spill his blood.
I tried to kill him once it’s true
but he was a baby then and was not slew
Who killed Christ the Lord?
Nay, not I said Caiaphas, it was not one of us.
Verily I say it was not by my hand
but by some higher greater command
Who killed Christ the Lord?
I did not do it said Judas, I did not kill the Lord Jesus.
Yes, I betrayed him with a kiss
and in shame condemned myself for this
Who killed Christ the Lord?
Not me said faithful Peter, I am my brother’s keeper.
Upon his head they put a price
and I, like a coward, denied him thrice
Who killed Christ the Lord?
Not us said the pharisees but ruled he be seized.
For his faith, his power and glory
alas they came for him at Gethsemane
Who killed Christ the Lord?
Not us said the baying mob, his life we did not rob.
‘Twas the Governor of Judea whose
decree was death to the King of the Jews
Who killed Christ the Lord?
Do not blame me said Pilate, the law he did defile it.
But it was I whose cold fateful breath
ordered he be scourged and put to death
Who killed Christ the Lord?
That great sacrifice of the Passion of the Christ!
Who for our sins in God’s holy plan
suffered the Son of God and Son of Man
Written: April 2025
Categories:
herod, bible, easter, good friday,
Form:
Rhyme
Salome just loved gingerbread
But Herod misheard what she said
Who wants a dead head
To bounce in their bed?
So she dashed to the John instead
*Title inspired by Special Character, Ilene Bauer
Categories:
herod, bible,
Form:
Limerick
EPIPHANY - Acrostic
They came from the East, the three wise men,
Following a star that Prophesied a King,
A Shepherd of Israel Immanuel his name, in a
Stable in Bethlehem Precious gifts and adoration.
'I'd like to worship!', Herod declared.
Until in a dream the Astrologers were warned.
God’s gift of love for New Year, as foretold,
is Christ the heart of Yuletide and light of the world.
by Jean McLoughlin
Categories:
herod, christian, christmas, faith, gospel,
Form:
Acrostic
(These are lyrics to a song I wrote called "Blasphemy")
Verses:
Mother Mary sat on a bench with me today
But I couldn't think of one goddamn thing to say
'Cept, "Mother, oh! Won't you please save my soul right now?
I'd gladly do it but I don't know exactly how"
Hail Mary! Bless me twice!
Judas betrayed Jesus Christ
In Revelations, prophets said
John the Baptist lost his head
Chorus:
You gotta pander to my ego
Herod was my hero
Why didn't Noah's Ark fall apart?
Genesis was...just the start
Verses:
St. Peter slammed those Pearly Gates right into my fuc*ing face
Just too much sin I can't get in; no mansion there for me awaits
The wife of Lot, she turned to salt, but it was not all her fault
She ran away and then looked back as Sodom burned, and that's a fact
Repeat Chorus...
Verses:
Well, life was Hell so Jonah sailed into the belly of a whale
Daniel in the lion's lair; Delilah chopped off Samson's hair
Cain killed Abel out of spite as the Lamb of God got sacrificed
There came the Whore of Babylon while Thomas doubted every-one
Repeat Chorus...
**Just trying to post something a little different ;)
Categories:
herod, humorous, religion, religious,
Form:
Lyric
The Christmas Star
Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
How brightly you did shine!
Yet how you pale in comparison
To child Jesus' light divine.
According to Christian tradition, the Star of Bethlehem, also known as the Christmas star, revealed the birth of Jesus to the Magi (often translated as “wise men” but more accurately translated as “astrologers” or “astronomers”). According to the Gospel of Matthew, the three wise men were inspired by the star to travel from the East to Jerusalem. They knew from the star that the man whose appearance had been foretold had come into the world. They met with Herod to ask where the King of the Jews had been born saying ‘we have seen his star’. Herod was troubled because the magi told him that a king of the Jews had been born and gathered his chief priests and scribes together to find out where the Messiah had been born. His advisers quoted from scripture, the prophet Micah, and answered ‘Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David’. Herod gave this information to the magi but also determined from them at what time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem to search for the child and to bring back word. The Magi departed “and the star which they had seen in the East went before them, until it came and stood over where the young Child was". (Matthew 2: 7 – 10)
The magi were warned in a dream not to return to Jerusalem so they left for their own country by another route. When Herod realised he had been tricked, he ordered the execution of all male children in Bethlehem two years old and younger, based on the information the magi had given him concerning the time the star first appeared.
by Jean McLoughlin
Categories:
herod, christian, inspirational, jesus, light,
Form:
Prose
I stood hidden in the shadows, watching
as Salome, clad in flowing veils, gyrated
to the music, exuding sensual richness.
Herod leered drunkenly at her vibrant body.
Overcome by uncontrolled lusty desire
he promised her anything that she wished for
and, prompted by her evil mother, she asked
for the head of John the Baptist on a plate.
Reluctantly, all eyes on him, including guests,
he was compelled to grant her strange request.
I stood hidden in the shadows, watching.
The condemned man was dragged outside
and roughly bundled to the floor, unresisting,
held by the executioner’s steely grasp
whose dagger swiftly slit his life away.
An old woman clasped her head between her hands,
shocked and fearful at the sight of oozing blood,
in horror listening to the janitor’s final bidding.
The keen young maiden held a gold container
ready to receive the freshly severed head
of an innocent man. The old woman cried, in vain.
I stand hidden in the shadows, watching the years
roll by, a silent witness within a gilded frame.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Within a Gilded Frame: A masterpiece by Caravaggio
“The Beheading of St John the Baptist” prominently
displayed in St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta.
© paul callus ~ 13th May 2016
Categories:
herod, art, death,
Form:
Narrative
As dawn vanquished the winter solstice
the celebrations were over but
Mary and Joe felt frisky,his fingers
underneath her dress, stirring her pot
keeping her simmering till she
arched her back and moaned,
pressing against his hand
as her juices overflowed.
Joe settled back licking his fingers
as Mary dropped to her knees
and burrowing under his robes
released his staff and slowly,
teasingly relieved his tumescence,
although her hymen remained intact.
Satiated they spooned, chatting
of their upcoming nuptials
and Joe shared the rumor that
King Herod was to grant passage
to some learneds from the East
who were seeking to observe
next year's comet.
They always brought
trade goods with them,
so Joe was short selling
frankincense and myrrh
but he thought gold
would stay firm.
Their conversation then turned
to their upcoming journey
to register in Joe's natal town.
Another damned tax,
the Romans would run
them into penury.
And he'd better book a place
at the Inn early, or else
they'd end up sleeping
in the stable.
Categories:
herod, christmas,
Form:
Narrative
All over the house I find
Bits of Christmas left behind.
Crumbles from the Christmas bread
Dropped by little ones as they fed.
Each memento brings a tear
For Christmas is gone for another year.
Glad tidings from the Christmas choir
Have been like wrappings, tossed on fire.
If I could turn back time, I would,
Just for more Christmas if I could.
Kings knelt before the new born boy,
Love filled sweet Mary's heart with joy.
Mooing cattle looked with awe.
None would forget the scenes they saw.
Peeling bells in triumph rang,
Overhead the angels sang.
Quite rapidly the news was spread,
Reporting on Babe in the hay bed.
Shepherds gazed at Child with awe,
Told to others what they saw.
Until Herod spilled his harsh words out,
Vowing to kill each male child about.
When parents gathered the Child and fled,
X rays would have found no Babe in bed.
Years have passed and details grow dim.
zealously we tell the tale of Him.
January 10, 2016
Categories:
herod, baby, christmas,
Form:
Abecedarian
In my hometown of Hillsboro
A humble, small suburb
There stood a church that was more humble still
In that cozy congregation
We'd teach and learn the Word
And try each day to do the Father's will
But our little congregation
Each year at Christmastime
Would execute a miraculous feat!
The whole town would come out in droves
To view what we'd present
A Christmas pageant right next to the street!
The first vignette was of a home
A modern family
Telling of that first Christmas long ago
The next scene showed the palaces
Of Herod on his throne
When his grim proclaimation he bestowed
Each onlooker could walk or drive
From scene to sacred scene
But either way, observers saw the worth
For every stop would reenact
The story of God's love
From Herod to the blessed Savior's birth
The community seemed hungry
To hear the wondrous news
Of the Messiah, born to die for us
And like them, we were richly blessed
To share with all who came
The spectacle-- a Journey Through Christmas!
*This is a true story that I've presented in poetry form for Carolyn Devonshire's "Christmas
in Your Town" Contest
Categories:
herod, faith, holiday, nostalgiachristmas, christmas,
Form:
Narrative
Christmas day, two thousand years on,
what happened to peace and goodwill among men.
Nothing has changed since the day it began
when Herod tried hard to get rid of that man.
A lifetime spent fighting to rid man of sin
by spreading God’s word (though it never sunk in).
To finally die, nailed up high on a cross,
that proved to the world those with power are boss.
We celebrate Christmas to show that we care
for the goodwill of mankind that we’ll never share.
For two thousand years has been ravaged with war
there’s no living in peace, too much to fight for.
But Christmas, I’m sure, is just part of the game
to give us a break from a world full of pain.
So when once again it is that time of year
lets join in the charade and share Christmas Cheer.
Ivor G Davies
Categories:
herod, christmas,
Form:
Rengay
Yes, I was there when He was born
that all mankind from sin be shorn.
When His folks were told no room at inn,
kind creatures welcomed him as kin.
The shepherds and the Magi came
and with great reverence, praised His name.
A shepherd who dared not leave his sheep,
brought them along the Babe to meet.
I watched the scene with pure delight,
knowing I shared with all that night.
I am the cow, who led her calf
without a herdsman and his staff.
I left a stall, still warm but bare
for that Child and His natal care.
Sweet Mary smiled her thanks to me.
That she was tired was plain to see.
When the Child was born, the angels sang
And unseen bells with gladness rang.
There was no rest for man nor beast,
so many came, the best and least.
The Family was challenged the next morn,
when rumors flew, a King was born.
King Herod was consumed with rage
when he was told this by a sage.
He decreed that all boys under two,
must die and then to prove it true,
and he wasn't having a bit of fun,
he even murdered his own son.
The family fled with their new Son
and though many terrible deeds were done,
this Child was saved and lived to be
the Savior of all humanity.
November 22, 2015
Categories:
herod, birth, child,
Form:
Rhyme