Jakob is in prison until the age of 106.  This is his poetry.

Our Saviour's Path

  For my brothers 

Surély God doth not reward our deeds

 born of depression, blind rage or despair;                             a)

 yea, though all seven deadly sins ensnare,

 our Saviour Dear doth take account our needs:                b)

Lost was our will 'gainst mortal flesh.                                       c)

          He speeds

 us Comfort, e'en though satan marr and tear

 us, seeming consequence embroil, enflare;                          d)

'Tis that we walk Our Saviour's Path, Who bleeds ----    e)

 wounded by stripes the world inflicteth ---- leads

 us through dark shadowed vale, that we may share        f)

 His suffering in the flesh.

          We now, aware                                                                             g)

 of His Love --- 'tis through trial that He feeds                     h)

 souls --- know He shalt not break His bruiséd reeds,

 and smould'ring wicks restoreth He with care.                  i)

a) Romans 4:3-8, Colossians 2:14

b) Romans 7:21-24

c) John 14:26, Romans 8:13b-17

d) 1 Peter 5:8

e) Isaiah 53:4-5

f) Psalms 23:4

g) 2 Timothy 2:11-12a

h) Acts 14:22

i) Isaiah 42:3

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The Light That Shines (In the Darkness)

     For the Songwriters #

Of books, there's no end to them,

          and there is no beginning;

     of songs, no true rendering, nor singing.

For lore is lost upon this mortal man,

     for though he breathes it in, digests,

          he does not see the Plan.

He feels it's weight, he ponders, thinking

          what it all can mean,

     through rhyme and reason sees what he can glean;

and through a spark may now and then appear,

     obscured by mists and fogs of life,

          the Truth may not seem clear.

Thus, he won't see what's plainly shown;

          he fails to apprehend

     the warning God proclaims before his end:

''Seek for My Son while He may yet be found!

     Believe in Him; in hell eternal

          you need not be bound.''

''In the Light of My Risen Sun, though

          myst'ries yet remain,

     the Discipline of Trust can make them plain.

''Attain for yourself That Jew'l of Great Worth,

     and evermore you may observe

          My Glorious New Earth.''

Will you give in, now, mortal man

           for surely you can see

     that from your fate of death you cannot flee?

May Jesus open your eyes, granting sight

     that you might follow, striding boldly,

          basking in His Light!

# Inspired by Paul Simon's Slip Slidin' Away

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Ascent of Ziz

For My Family

        I

O House of Jacob, take ye heed:

  be not afraid of what is said.

See thou thy Champ'yon in the lead;

  He came to fight when others fled.

Thou saw thy friends e'er slink away,

  and by thyself thou felt dismayed;

remember He, Who IS thy Stay,

  hast in His Scale thy foe thus weighed.

        II

''Go not to quarrel in the pass

  to seek this multitude alone;

'twould be disastrous and enmasse

  thy kind will scatter, chance be blown.

''Go ye to the Ascent of Ziz

  and there see what thy Lord will do.

Ye will not fight this battle. 'Tis

  Yeshua Who contends for you!''

        III

''Bless we our God! Praise Adonai

  Whose loving mercy lasts fore'er!''

Whilst 'fore our foe ambushes lie;

  their cohorts fall into the snare!

''Didst these, our enemies, partake

  in battle? Was there e'en a fight?

Seems 'pon their kind didst they mistake,

  striking their own whilst in their flight.''

        IIII

As we divide the plunder: ''Hail

  the God of Jacob Strong to Save!''

''Baruch HaShem!'' may we regale

  the One Who Triumphs O'er the grave!

May mine own kin now trust anew

  as King Jehoshaphat had done;

our enemy grotesque He slew:

  ''The Lord our God, the Lord has won!''

2 Chronicles 20:1-30