Bartimaeus, once prospering and well,

lost his sight, now unclean, a shell,

wears his beggar’s cloak to survive

and daily begs to keep himself alive.

—-

Palestine a state, prospering and safe,

lost in shock, shattered their way of life,

wear their beggar’s cloak as he did

and daily begs for peace in dire strife.

—

Bartimaeus met Jesus who healed his eyes,

shed his cloak, like sloughing an old skin,

followed Christ to the cross and saw him rise,

Watches with Jesus weeps and longs to bring

—

Palestine’s shameful cloak

from a people torn, 

dismembered, 

killed,

still born

under 

a devilish

yoke.