The older brother shunned

The choice in the ancient scripture
the history of these people
the roots of the struggle
in the choice of the father
in whom he gave his blessing

The older brother shunned
banished for a blessing
given to the other
not gaining his inheritance
sent to other places

The seed of the conflict
the present day war
far older than Moses
than Joshua’s conquest of the land
after their wandering

Older still than this
back to the patriarch,
to father Abraham
children of Ishmael and Isaac
still yet dying in the streets

Two sons of the father
of the founder, of Abraham
the progeny of his faith
two sons of God’s blessing
ever standing at war

Ishmael fighting Isaac
year upon bloody year
now the rockets flying,
only a stalemate, a ceasefire
neither giving ground

The legacy, the inheritance
the small piece of ground they share
each claiming God’s favor
that this is their promised land
with hope becoming despair


====
November 21, 2012
announcement of a cease fire
between Gaza (Hamas) and Israel
&
the tragedy of the fighting in Gaza and Israel
and the source of the conflict
in the division of Ishmael and Isaac
the sons of Abraham


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.