In the Marketplace

In the Marketplace
Matthew 11:15-19,25-30
In the marketplace
we now have
social distancing:
we always had
soul distancing.

In the marketplace
Jesus lamented
unbridged distance
of industrious
self-absorption.

In the marketplace
music dribbles,
no-one dances.
Mourners crying
find no sharing.

In the marketplace
John who is fasting
seems obsessive,
Jesus at table,
over-indulgent.

In the marketplace
busy cleverness
hangs up on wisdom;
only the child-like
have ears to listen.

In the marketplace,
weary and distant,
connection fraying,
we long for gentle
promise of resting.
     Barbara Messner 2/07/2020