Poetry Thursday: The Adversary
Hi ho, everyone. This is a poem I've been working on for a couple of weeks. It is very much a work in progress. But for today I wanted to share it with you and get your feedback. I hope you enjoy.
***
Ha’Satan rose up to speak in the Council.
“Why, Lord of All, do you demean yourself
“For these creatures? Those who blaspheme
“Your Name, who care not for your laws,
“Who make you regret each day their genesis?”
Ha’Satan was mighty in the council. He held
Pride of place among the Host, willing to say
That which others would not. He knew his role,
His seat in the council given from Adonai.
The Accuser. The Adversary. The one
Who held these walking sacks of ash and dust
To account, ungrateful for their lives,
Eager to squander the short time given them.
He, who had sung at the first music ordained
By Adonai, whose voice helped usher in
The world, looked at these mortals with nothing
But anger. He had no role in their making.
“They are all weak,” said Ha’Satan; “They will all
“Fail you in the end. They fail themselves.”
The Host murmured in disquiet. They murmured
In confusion. Why was Ha’Satan so brazen,
So filled with hate for these creatures, these
Children of God, whom Adonai placed even
Above them? Why, they wondered, did
Adonai allow Ha’Satan to speak so? They would never.
Perhaps it was jealousy. Ha’Satan knew that Adonai
Favored the least among the flesh above
The greatest of the Host. These were the ones who
Could choose him or deny him. They had that
Freedom. A freedom which the Host could not
Conceive. They were made to exalt the High.
But Adonai’s mortal sons could accept Him,
Or reject him. They did not comprehend.
And the host looked upon Ha’Satan, and
Wondered. Why did he question when they
Did not? Whence came the accusations?
How was he so bold before the LORD?
In all this time, in all the harangue,
Adonai had not spoken. He had remained
Serene. He had remained silent. A smile,
A merest murmur of one, had graced
His face. He, Lord of All, King of Kings,
Had been well-pleased in his son,
This Accuser, this good and wise servant.
He knew Ha’Satan would never lead him
Astray, that he had only His good in mind.
He had set Ha’Satan apart from the Host.
He had set him above the Host, with a
Deeper understanding, thoughts above
What the Host could conceive. He had made them
Blind, instruments of His will. Ha’Satan was
Not that. He was the one who held him
To account, challenged him, made him
Remember that He, too, had to explain.
For if Adonai could not explain, could not
Give laws which all followed, was he El?
Was he the High One, above all?
“My Son,” He began. “What troubles you?
“Why do you disturb your brothers so?
“You are high in My counsels. I have
“Given you dominion to judge.
“Is that not enough?” Ha’Satan’s eyes
Had never left those of his Lord.
“If I could judge,” he said, “I would judge
“That flesh you hold so dear. I would
“Judge them as guilty, undeserving
“Of your Love. They are a disease
“Upon your Creation. They deserve nothing
“But your condemnation. Turn from them.”
Adonai smiled that imperturbable smile,
That smile of He Who Is Oldest,
That smile of One Who Has Seen All.
“You cannot judge. Only I can. But,
“You can send me someone to judge. Whom do
“You choose. Choose well, I admonish you.”
Ha’Satan, caught short, paused. “Anyone?”
“Anyone,” Adonai said, “you deem worthy.”
From the heavens Ha’Satan had seen these mortals
Teeming in their millions, fornicating,
Cheating each other, abusing each other
And the Creation provided them.
They did not know their blessings,
Rutting like beasts, dealing with each other
As if they did not all possess that divine
Spark, that breath of the eternal God.
None of them were worthy. No, not even
Those who prayed the loudest; they were the
Worst. Lost in their own holiness,
Praying loudly in the square, as if their
Fervent cries to Adonai wiped away their
Sins. All were filled with unmitigated sin,
All were lost to their selfish desires,
All in prisons they saw as the Universe.
Pick one. Pick anyone. Pick he who observed
All the laws, all the commandments,
Whom all would see as righteous. What would he
Do when Ha’Satan turned his gaze to him?
Ha’Satan pointed. “Him,” he said. “This, Your
“Most faithful servant, who praises Your name
“For the bounty you have given him. Take all from him
“And see him blaspheme your name. Take it all
“And see how these sacks of flesh lose their love
“For You.” Adonai sighed, or what seemed like a sigh.
“You wish Me to test him. Very well. But I shall not.
“That shall be your doing. Do with him as
“You will. Lay him low. Take all from him.
“And you will see, my Son, that he will not
“Speak against Me. He will bless Me with
“His dying breath. For I breathed life into
“Him.” Out of the multitude, the teeming
Collection of men and women living,
Dying, passing their lives without
Thinking, without seeing, he could
Have chosen anyone. But Ha’Satan chose
Him, the righteous one, the one loved
By his friends, by his family, the one
Whose life had been blessed by Adonai, who
Had all he could ever hope for: land and
Servants, sheep and goats, fine, strong sons and young,
Lovely daughters. His home was fat with the
Blessings of the Lord. Unquestioned was his
Righteousness. Obvious was his love for
Adonai, the source of his serene life.
“Him,” Ha’Satan said again. “He who will praise
“You, Lord of All, Lord of the Universe,
“You, King of the Four Corners. I choose him.”