Poetry

The Forerunner

by Maria Franco
06/24/24
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The Forerunner is he
The Forerunner is John the Baptiser.
The Forerunner precedes the bridegroom
The Forerunner announces the arrival of the main man.

The Forerunner is he
The Forerunner lives in the desert.
He wears clothes of camel skin,
Locusts and honey his main diet.

The Forerunner is he
He is bold to point our errors
Faults of the virtually blind Pharisees.
He is the prepared path in the wilderness.

The Forerunner is he
He baptizes with water
At his home in the Jordan.
He urges people to repent
Turn away from their sins.

The Forerunner is he
He is not worthy to untie
The straps of the sandals of Christ.
Yet Christ himself said
No man born was greater than John.

The Forerunner is he
He knows he is not the Christ
He knows he must decrease
He knows Christ has to increase.

The Forerunner is he
He alone was given the honour
To baptize Jesus in the Jordan.
He saw the spirit come down like a dove
Heard the pleased voice of the Father above.

The Forerunner is he
He gazes after the Lamb of God,
Knows he will take away the sins of mankind
Baptize all with fire and spirit.
He commissions his disciples
To now leave him and follow Christ.

The Forerunner is he
He works only for the kingdom of God.
Truth and precepts at a high price
His beheaded head a martyrdom
The last prophet before the Anointed One.

Maria Franco