Best Laban Poems
He dreamt of a ladder reaching heaven
angels ascending, descending all night
Sensing a Divine Presence in the place
Beth El - House of God - he named it just right
On the run from the murderous Esau
who traded his birthright for a bowl of beans
Jacob the Patriarch had a 20-year date with Laban
a renowned swindler and cheat, so mean
At age 130 he met Egypt's Pharaoh
told him his years were few and bittersweet
Yet thanks to his faith and resilience
Jacob's legacy to his sons was complete
Head in the Heavens
Feet planted on Earth
Jacob, renamed Israel
Mocked for his birth
Mislabeled 'The Supplanter'
Though Esau tricked him
Pushed his twin brother aside
Emerging first-born with a grin
Then the imposter Esau
Sold his birthright for a little food
His hands bloody from hunting
Wild with fury, his mood
On the same very day
Righteous Grandfather Abraham died
But Esau could have cared less
Not one tear did he cry
His own mother knew Esau was evil
She'd grown up with the vile Laban and Besu'el
Rebecca proudly stood up for what was right
For her son Jacob only would she fight
Jacob dwelled in tents, a man of the book
His mother helped him deal with Esau the crook
Who deceived father Isaac 'til his dying day
And wanted to murder Jacob in the worst of ways
Far too many still think that Jacob was wrong
To 'steal' the birthright ~ that he deserved all along
Antisemitism is back in vogue
thanks to a world gone rogue
Some say it’s a fairly recent disease
spare me the laughter please
It’s been around ever since Patriarchal Days
infecting all of history, an age-old malaise …
Why did Jacob flee Esau, journeying to Haran
Esau would have murdered Jacob, had he not gone
And who did Jacob encounter at journey’s end
none other than Laban, at first a ‘good friend’
Laban invited Jacob to stay for free for thirty days
though he eventually swindled his nephew in so many ways
Lied to him again and again, switching his bride on his wedding night
endlessly changing his wages and working conditions – slight after slight
Finally told his nephew: Your wives are mine, as are your sheep
expecting Jacob would bend to slavery without so much as a peep
But to Laban, Jacob never once did bow… instead he fled
then challenged Esau’s 400 men, backing them down…
Murderous Esau, freedom-denying Laban, cooked up twin recipes
for legions of antisemites down through the ages, into our century
1. Walls of Jericho:
Giddy
City
2. Moses:
Hopper
Stopper
3. The Egyptians:
Water
Fodder
4. Jael:
Hammer
Slammer
5. Sampson:
Pillar
Killer
6. Laban:
Fuzzin'
Cousin
References:
1. Joshua 6:20
2. Exodus 10:17-19
3. Exodus 14:28
4. Judges 4:21
5. Judges 16:29-30
6. Genesis 31:41
Written July 2d and 3d, 2013
Sa kanilang mga anino,
Kami’y kanilang itinago
Lagi kami ang sinusuyo
Na manatili lang sarado
Na dating walang pumapanig
Noong kami ay nalulupig
Ngunit ngayon, kami’y titindig
At sana’y kami ay marinig
At bakit naman kami matitinag?
Dahil ba kami ay babae lamang?
At bakit kami pa ang maduduwag,
Sa lupaing kami rin ang nag-silang?
Kailan pa nagging sukatan
Ang aming mga kasarian?
At ang taglay na kakayahan
Na ipagtanggol ang lipunan
Mag-dadamit, mag-hahayag ng malaya
May lakas ng loob at di nahihiya
Dahil di na nila kami madadaya
Sa pag-laban namin ng aming hustisya
Tatayo kami at titingala
Sa pag-tibay ng paniniwala
Ika’y babaeng dinadakila,
Na di na muling maalila.
PM, 2022
Mahanaim
Israel’s father, Jacob
had lived a life of tricks and cons,
till at last he’d met his match of matches
when he came face to face with his mighty God.
All because he had conned his brother, Esau
out of his life’s most precious thing,
it was the birthright of the first born son
but to Esau, his stomach came first so it didn’t mean a thing.
After many years of living with Laban, Jacob’s trickster father-in-law
he took leave with his wives, servants and cattle and headed back to his home,
but hearing that Esau was hot on his trail with 400 men
he was fearful and thinking, ‘Is this the way it was all going to end”?
Jacob was so troubled, how could he fight so many
with my wives, and servants and such a small little band,
yet he stopped by the side of the road for some much needed sleep
and found to him, the Lord’s mighty outstretched hand in a place he call, Mahanaim.
Yes, it is true, the Lord pulled back Heaven’s canvas
and revealed to him, God’s infinite provision and His waiting second camp,
Who was armed to the teeth and ready to defend son, Jacob
by giving revelation of what it means to live by God’s Word’s lamp.
King David to, trusted in the provision of the Lord
while running from Absalom, his son,
David also came to Mahanaim
and found restoration, healing, and the battle now won.
Now, in these times, we to are learning the secrets
of leaning totally on His breast,
doing all that we can do for us and others
and watching and trusting our Father to do all of the rest.
Written by: Marilyn S. Jennings
They say in his old age, Isaac was blind
yet like his father Abraham, unusually kind
Rebecca, his wife, came from a family evil and cruel
her brother Laban tried to rob Eliezer of all of his jewels ...
Isaac loved his 'hunter-son,' Esau, a chip off Laban's block
in Esau's brother Jacob, her pure son, Mother Rebecca put her stock --
Foiling Isaac's plan to give his blessing to Esau, one so cruel
~ Love that is blind must not be permitted to rule
Buhangin sa iyong balikat,
mula sa pagkakadapa,
Maiitim na markang iyong nakikita,
Di ba bumangon ka?
Di nga bat pinakita mo
ang tapang mong totoo?
Ng ngumiti ka lamang
sa galit ng mundo
Harapin ang pagsubok
Gabutil man oh gabundok
Pagkakaisa ng pananalig
Pusot isipay masigasig
CHORUS 1
Ng mawala ka sa panalangin
Mong malalim at taimtim
Dun mo nakita,
Nun nadama
Sa buhay kailanma’y di ka magiisa
Pagkat kasama mo siya
Palad mong magkadaop
Mga matang nakatiklop
Pagtawag mo…. Kapayapaan sa Puso
END OF CHORUS 1
kaliwa’t kanang sampal ng trahedya
matinding gutom ng sikmura
Sa gitna ng alinlangan
Di bat pumito ka lamang?
Lalim ng ngisi’y makahulugan,
Ininit na ng hulmahan,
Ng hipan mong papalayo,
Ang buhawi ng tukso
Dilim man o init ng araw
Wag kang bibitaw
Samot saring abala,
Sa tikas mo’y di uubra
CHORUS 2
Ng mawala ka sa panalangin
Mong malalim at taimtim
Lakas ay nabuhay
Ang puso’y tumibay
Sa sagupa at laban ng iyong buhay,
Pagkat kapiling mo siya,
Palad mong magkadaop
Mga matang nakatiklop
Pagsamo mo….. Gabay ng iyong mundo
END OF CHORUS 2
Habol mo ang iyong hininga,
Sa pagbubuhos ng lakas,
At ng maging talunan,
Di ba’t tumango ka lang?
Sa gitna ng pagkutya,
Kamao ba ang sandata?
Ng ialay mot ilahad,
Sa mabuti mong hangad
Sa laro man o sa buhay,
Lagi kang maging pantay,
Ilang beses ka mang mabigo,
Ang tulad mo’y di susuko
REPEAT CHORUS 1 THEN
CHORUS 2
there was this game that we all played when we were little tots
we would pull off a flower's petals while saying, he loves me, he loves me not
but if we were to play this game in regards to ourselves
would we be honest in saying, I love me not, I love myself?
the act of self love is inferred in the word of God
to love oneself as God has loved you from the very start
for love is a verb it's an action projected towards a person, place or thing
but to love oneself what does it comprise of and what does it truly mean?
so if loving oneself is a given, why do people commit suicide?
if loving oneself is normal behavior, why do people have self-loathing inside?
are you in the loving zone? are you capable of loving at all?
are you in the loving zone and can you respond to God's call?
to love yourself as God loves you
to have a respect for yourself that comes shining through
now Jacob was in love with Rachel so for her hand he labored seven long years
but when it came time her father took advantage of Jacob
who was drunk on good cheer
Laban gave Leah to wife instead as she was his eldest daughter
Laban said this is our custom but for seven more years I'll give you the other
now Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah but no progeny did she give to him
but Leah unloved by her husband provided him with six healthy children
but God loved Leah as she was a devoted disciple of Christ
and that is why He blessed her with the gift to give life
never let the devil in your ears whisper any disbelief or doubt
love yourself as God loves you and it will somehow always work out
do i love me? do i love me not? that is the question in life
do i love myself with a passion like my Savior Jesus the Christ
now when God blesses you while you're in the loving zone
don't allow demonic influences to come between you and the Heavenly Throne
as it's all about the right relationships that you develop in this life
to love yourself, to love others and to have the love of Christ
Sa isang malamig na sulok ng lilim,
girian ay lumalalim,
liwanag laban sa dilim,
araw ay palubog ng palubog,
dahan-dahan,
mahinahon,
ngunit ang iniwa'y dumudugong kalawakan,
pulang-pula,
ito ay rebolusyon ng pag-ibig,
himagsikan sa araw ni santo valentino,
tulad ng spaghetii al' amatriciana,
sa ating harapan ay lalong namumula,
tumitingkad sa sarap ng salsa de tomates,
pero ang pumupula ng higit ay ang iyong mga pisngi,
napaka-gandang pagmasdan,
makinis,
o kay sarap haplus- haplusin,
nakaka-gigil hagkan,
lalo na sa init ng iyong mga labi,
nais kong madurog,
maanod sa agos ng matinding kaligayahan,
at tuluyang malunod sa nag-aapoy mong mga halik.
Araw ay mistulang nag-laho,
nilamon ng kadiliman,
tanging tanglaw nati'y mga bituing nagni-ningning,
para bagang iyong mga matang nagpu-pungay sa tuwa,
at simoy ng hangi'y lumalamig,
mula dalampasigan hanggang sa dulo ng ating mga puso,
mabango,
sariwa,
parang ensalada de verduras verde,
guacamole,
o kay sarap lasapin,
tulad ng pag-iibigan nating wagas,
may samyo ng lubusang pag-mamahal,
sa kada segundo ng ating mga buhay,
lagi nating pinag-sasaluhan,
nakaka-aliw,
nakaka-tindig balahibo,
nakaka-kilig,
giliw,
sana'y hindi na magwawakas ang lahat na ito.
Maliban sa akasya,
mesang itim,
puting pusa,
sin-puti marahil ng fettuccine alla' carbonara,
wala ng iba pa,
kung hindi'y ikaw at ako lamang,
malaya,
nag-iibigan sa loon ng nakaka-baliw na pag-ibig,
at iyan ay maganda.
Dawn is here, oats are being prepared
For the boss and his kindred
For lunch it's rice & saluna, veg soup and salad
For dinner it's kousa with laban.
For Dr.Ram Mehta
Dodoitsu poetry contest
Written 2/14/15
The heel grabber
from birth, until deception called out.
Jacob loved to dish out
soup, thick with red gravy.
His twin jealous for
that heavy satisfying sup
but fate would betray him
as would his belly ach(ing).
Esau, translated
would be “Harry,” changed
from hairy and was he red
or the living end…do I digress…
Jacob held on for dear life,
as he like many second born,
wanted to be first. And his dear mama,
bless her heart, heard from God -
Rebecca wondered what the wrestling
in her womb was all about.
She thought, ‘must be boys.’
She thanks God for the dynamic duo
but knows that God has chosen
numero two. She favors Jacob
as her husband clings to his firstborn,
Esau, that macho hunter.
Jacob is a mama’s boy
but would have to flee
after deceitfully gaining
his brother’s birthright.
Of course Esau sold it
precariously for a bowl
of stew and their blind dad
would be tricked too.
Jacob ran from his land
as his brother wanted to Cain him,
in other words murder was on his mind.
Uncle Laban took him in.
Back in that time
cousins would marry
and Jacob fell head over heels
for the beautiful Rachel.
In the dark, they made love
to consummate their marriage
after working seven years
for her dear old dad…
except Laban slipped his firstborn
under those covers,
and the heel grabber
would have to work seven more
so he could have the object
of his affection. (Slighted Leah
was given many more children
as God saw her plight.)
After all those deceitful years,
returning to his rightful place,
he wrestled an angel of God.
He wouldn’t let go until God blessed him —
that heel grabber had tightened his grip,
until he was blessed and unhinged his hip.
As the angel touched Jacob’s socket
and changed his name to Israel.
3/15/2022
Genesis 25:19 - 32:32
Ang sapatos ay gamit sa paa,
At proteksyon katulad ng bota;
Isuot mo ito sa paglakad,
Upang ikaw ay maging mapalad.
Ang mga turo ng Panginoon,
Mabisa sa lahat ng panahon;
Huwag mo nga itong huhubarin,
Sa masama'y huwag paalipin.
Ang kasuotang galing sa itaas
Ay pandigma laban kay Satanas;
Ang salita ng katotohanan
Ay may lakip na kapayapaan.
Banal ang ebanghelyo ng Diyos,
Ang aral ay tulad ng sapatos.
Rebecca was three years old when Isaac took her for a wife
Nineteen years later, no children, but still pro-life
Finally pregnant, Rebecca’s joy was short-lived, with twins inside
tossing and turning tumultuously in the embryo of Isaac’s bride
Rachel heard of this and learned her lesson
Meeting Jacob at age five, her brother Laban said: ‘No messin’
Seven years (and one week) later, they finally got hitched
Thoughts of kids at five, ‘unceremoniously’ ditched
Noah built an ark, David danced before the Lord
He slew Goliath with a stone all in the name of God.
Joseph had a treacherous time, condemned to die in jail
yet rose in stature, name and fame to see his dream come true
his brothers who had hurt him so, bowed down and did not know
that this great man was the one they maimed
their brother, flesh and blood.,
Esau sold his birth right, all for a plate of soup,
he did not know the price he'd pay, that sad and sorry day.
Jacob worked for seven years to claim his only love
yet Laban did not keep his word - poor Jacob he was robbed.
Sampson fell before Delilah revealed his source of strength
yet had a mighty power surge, and took his own revenge.
Many are the great men, who walked and served the Lord
stumbling, faulting, just like us, but there's one thing that they knew: whatever happens, bad or good, just trust in God above
His faithfulness is our strong reward, His Word the strongest Chord