I cooled in the shade in
The stone collonade with
My friend as we traded
The talk of the town

All flustered, I asked with a frown

“Say, who was that Baptist
With locusts for breakfast
That hair-shirted firebrand
Who rambled and raved?”

Defensive, my colleague relayed

“He wasn’t our Savior
Instead, his way-maker
The ‘Friend of the Bridegroom’
In the womb, they first met”

“With Miryam’s (מִרְיָם) sweet greeting
Who too was with child
His mother Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע)
Felt dancing within”

I queried, “But why did some hate him?”

“This Yoḥanan (יוחנן), God’s Servant
With words bold and fervent
Had scolded the Pharisees
Fearlessly, see?”

“But how?” I said, stifling my glee

“‘Repent!’ he’d commanded
‘God’s Kingdom had landed!
Flee sin! Turn with quickness!
God’s litmus? Bear fruit!’“

I pressed him, “And next on his route?”

“His passion untamed
To Herod, he named
His marriage unlawful!
But waffle, He wouldn’t”

“The queen couldn’t listen
The truth did her sicken
So by her conniving
Survive he would not”

“Her scheming advanced at
The King’s fancy feast
When Salome danced, the King
Chanced a rash vow”

I badgered my friend, “Don’t stop now!”

“‘I’ll grant whatsoever’
Said he, guests impressing
‘To half of my kingdom!
Now bring me your wish’”

“She sprang to her mother
Who told her none other
Than John’s speechless head on
A platter would do”

“His oath Herod kept, lest
He look like an oaf
Then John’s students sullenly
Buried this saint”

Surprised at my wet eyes
I felt disenfranchised
“So now who will wash us?”
I watched him with hope

My friend laid his hand on my shoulder

“The skies poured God’s Spirit
As John washed Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ)
Who’ll ‘baptize with
Spirit and fire’“

“‘Behold, God’s own Lamb!’
That Forerunner cried
‘God’s Son, Who out-hurls
The world’s sin‘

‘I rejoice at His Voice
My joy is now full
For He must increase
And I decrease’“

“Let’s search for Him, then!”
I told him, breath-bated
“Why linger around?”
And off
With abandon
We ran
To seek and be found

*****

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11, NIV)