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The Balsam Tree: Commiphora gileadensis

O Balsam tree so fine,
gift of King Solomon
from Shebas Queen, so kind!

Your astounding beauty
reveals secrets untold,
God-given healing tree.
Legend professes that
you inhabited the
En-gedi oasis,
and Gilead, maybe.

What enigma is this,
cutting and piercing you
brings healing balm and bliss?
A prophetic sign of
Christs balm-redeeming kiss
to humankind upon
the tree, no one shall miss.

O Balsam tree so fair,
your gift of heaven scents,
perfume from God to share.
-Lo Gos
-4/01/2001

Lent 2001

When we journey through the Lenten gate,
are we not astounded by the weight
of humankind's perpetual hate,
which nailed Jesus to his mortal fate?

Pages of history far and wide,
shall never adequately describe
Jesus suffering and crucified,
forever drawing us to his side.

The propaganda of tribe and creed,
economics exploit and breed greed
a whirlwind harvest of bitter seed,
Christ's Passion lives on, his wounds still bleed.

Listen to the Holocaust victim call,
remember the two-third's poor and small
break down every dividing wall.
In God's kingdom, there is room for all.
-Lo Gos
-25/03/2001