Do you remember how,
in the parable, 
he paid them, last and first?
To the first he was fair, 
but to the last he was 
magnificent. 
Neither knew 
whether to laugh or shout 
or fall to their knees; 
so we, too, 
swayed between the thirsty 
and the relieved, 
envying and blaming 
each in turn …

So too, at last, 
he spoke glory
to whom he first served silence 
more merciful 
than his passing 
words, and she, 
risen lately from her Baals 
and run with twisted tongue 
to the Son of David, 
was buried by the weight 
of faith worth its salt 
and borne again; 
and we stumble to understand 
her meaning