Apame
1 Esdras 4.29
Apame, a playful
concubine, consort of the king,
Caught the attention
of Zerubbabel, a young man.
In contest for what’s
strongest, he, her praises did sing.
Aligning her with
truths presence did wisdom expand.
Darius, the king,
found notes from three aspiring men.
Each stating what is
strongest in all of creation.
One claimed wine,
next the king, last truth and women.
Among these three,
the king chose the third for oblation.
Claiming the reality
of woman requires a powerful choice.
From their living
presence comes the human race.
Yet over centuries
patriarchy has stifled their voice.
We must acknowledge
their importance or truth erase.
A delightful woman,
Apame, conducted herself with humor.
She knew her part in
the royal retinue; How to be true.
Taking cues from
Spirit, she claimed her virtue apart from rumor.
Having the kings’ ear
she could bring love, justice to all but a few.
Her father, Bartacus,
had shown her loving care.
Brothers and a sister
grew up ‘round an ample table.
A man of simple
means, he would always truth dare.
Life, a gracious
Creators’ gift asks of all what they are able.
With courage she
asserted her strength and might.
A most appealing
banner of feminine power she unfurled.
Bringing the king a
chance for truth unvarnished to sight.
Hail to thee, young
women fair, bring your vision out.
Disdain the lessor
view culture often asks you to take.
Your bodies, your
minds, your grace-filled hearts don’t doubt.
Creator gifts you
into life, bring us truth, don’t forsake.
Subversive texts,
these, saved over eons for us to read.
Characters real, they
remind of our places to accept.
No person must be
overlooked, denied, in falseness bleed,
For Spirit will ever
underline truth while power has slept.
The Rev. Ronald Allen
Melver, M.Div.
5 March 2013
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