Came the executioner, gait unhesitant,
Struck the shepherd,
Vilified his name,
Scattered lambs though they remained, unscattered,
Recognising who should own the shame.
Sensing predator within their presence,
Flock threw off their lambskins,
Wolves revealed,
Howled to the spirit, all great knowing,
Tended shepherd, wounds to lick, till healed,
Succoured to the needs of one so fallen,
Blessed his forehead, lips,
And too, his heart,
Whispered words of comfort ever known since
Hate and love drew brothers far apart.
Slayer did not reckon on the wolves, clad woollen,
Nor that pack protects its own,
He did not understand,
That all conveyed by lupine leader’s actions
Subdued the wolves, contained them as meek lambs.
Did not see that underneath the sheepskin,
Soft as down when transformed
By love’s skill
Wolves, armed to teeth with rocks and slingshots, justly
Sacrifice the giant who mars god’s will.
Love between the shepherd and the wolf pack,
Born of trust, example,
Sacrifice,
Know the truth, though hidden in the rhetoric,
Taught the truth, they filter through the lies.