Christmas, day 1. The Prophets and the Leave-taking. i. Sons of the propets.

Christmas, day 1. The Prophets and the Leave-taking

Today is the start of a three part poem about Elijah being taken up into the whirl wind. We hear from the perspective of the prophets's sons who knew that Elijah would be "translated" and were curious about Elisha's reaction. It is fascinating that they are more absorbed in the apprentice's response than Elijah's departure or what they might have learned of him. How often do I find myself sidetracked by a logical or worthy aspect and miss the main event?

part i. Sons of the prophets of Gilgal and Jericho

2 Ki 2:1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

those two in desert sandals and ragged robes

a familiar sight hereabouts:

not your run-of-the-mill prophets,

but that’s the point, isn’t it?

unattached

displaced

marginalised—

in a good sense of the word

living in the margins

while we live in the middle of the scroll

—the message comes to them

they carry it from the edge

to where we can hear it

we halt over words,

stumble over letters,

living troubles us

they wander deserts,

commune with mountains,

connect to wild things,

making us uncomfortable—unsure

that ease on the borders—

on the edge

like the blade of a knife:

cutting, sharp

they balance as if by nature

they, at peace—poised;

today the old one goes

we got the message

this is a day to watch and

one day tell our grandchildren:

we knew,
we saw him go.