Rebekah's Crucifixion Between Her Sons

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 15, 2000 by Karen Zealand

   And the opposites in her nature split into twins
   and fought in her womb.

   Esau become her nostalgia for safety,
   Jacob her hunger for the unknown;
   God predicted they would always be at odds.

   Esau, more like his father or the girl she'd been
   before her impetuous yes when the patriarch's steward
   slipped two gold bracelets on her wrist
   and led her on the back of a camel from everything
   familiar.

   Jacob, more like his grandfather Abraham,
   who would kill his own son if God demanded it,
   or like his mother who connived with him against her
   husband
   to steal his twin's birthright.

   Rebekah was afraid, wished life could be simpler,
   as before they were claimed by Abraham's God
   and the holocaust of love He expected.

   She'd once loved Isaac like that,
   thrilled when she first saw him in the wilderness,

   but he would love her for the comfort she gave him
   as he loved Esau for the game he shot for his favorite stew.

--Karen Zealand La Vale, Md.

Poems should be limited to about 50 lines and preferably typed. Please send poems to NCR POETRY, 115 E. Armour Blvd., Kansas City MO 64111-1203. Or via e-mail to ncrpoetry@aol.com or fax (816) 968-2280. Please include your street address, city, state, zip and daytime telephone number. NCR offers a small payment for poems we publish, so please include your Social Security number.