The potter shaped clay as God sought to shape Israel:
but they said, "No use!"
The potter's wheel
turning, turning, turning;
centred clay shaped by the potter's hand
and water in small degree:
shaping, shaping, shaping,
creating a new thing of use and beauty.
In a moment the clay resists
spoiling, spoiling, spoiling,
the effort of the potter's hand.
Yet just as sudden work begins again,
building, building, building,
to reshape and bring to worth a creation altogether new.
Intention, love, free will, creativity:
possibility.
The prophet saw love amid his nation's bleak future:
intending yet reticent evil sitting with yearning and hope
for a fruitful, faithful people.
© Jeff Shrowder, 2013.
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