Jesus did not provoke it
It was already there
Their silent non-acceptance
In their cold hard stare
Jesus simply named it
Prophets not welcome here
Then they rose in anger
Get him out of here
How come he’s so clever
Just lives down the road
Old man Joe the carpenter
Who’s he trying to goad
We only see the surface
We do not see within
The spiritual life of others
Is hidden from our ken
But if we welcome others
Gifts to us they bring
Open up the heart’s ways
Let the other in
Brian Fahy
21 March 2022
Erris Poetry 