Jacob—wasn't he the one who cheated Esau
of his blessing at their mother's instigation?
Wasn't he the one who tricked his father, who was old and
growing blind,
then fled before his brother could become a murderer?
Wasn't he the one who had a problem with his thigh,
and slept on stone—
a mortal with a long list of evils past, for which
he must atone?
or was he
Israel—after whom whole nations of, generations of,
Christly men would follow?
Wasn't the past swallowed up in an opening path
when he saw God as omnipresent and man
as loving son, caring brother?
Didn't his brother run to kiss him, and didn't he
bring a family safely home?
