To govern at large, with depth and reason

King Darius ruler of the kingdom

Presidents for a land of size

The king thought Daniel to be wise



Princes appointed honourably

Filled with growing jealousy

Daniel served so faithfully

Others watched him carefully



Faultless find, a call to stay

Devotion daily, time to pray

A plot to have him done away

Of treatment in a wicked way



A king with pride deep at the core

Presidents helped to plan the law

For no requests of thirty days

Carried forth, unrighteous ways



Such flattery, from trusted men

From Daniel’s prayer – into the den

A law in place could not be changed

A callous plan they did arrange



Into the pit, sat unreleased

Sealed mouths of savage beasts

For God knew they were guilty

Daniel saved and rendered free



Injustice that was ensuing

The truthful case of wrong-doing

Into the pit, the men of wrong

For there the righteous don’t belong



Written by Geraldine Taylor ©

Strong Syrians at war against the Israelites

Yet followed a period of peace

Though no threat was posed, an enemy arose, from a foreign land

Fear drew in, the Assyrian king, was set to conquer all

Armies assembled from the border-land

O’ Ninevah city, a promised place

Radical residence of idol worshippers

Servers not of the living God, of what would become

A change of ways, lest they be destroyed

A chosen prophet foreseeable and called

A request to Jonah, awake the city

Of mercy and pity, to repent of their sins

Journey to Ninevah, look to the east

Actions opposed, a sail to the west, unaware of God’s test

An intention to hide, full of pride, he fell asleep

Yet on the ship, with sailors equipped, a storm arose

Wallowing winds, a stormy sea, a presumptuous plea

A cast of lots, on Jonah fell

Storm was sent on his account

Duly dashed into the sea, right into the belly of a fish was he

Three days and nights, afore dry land

Go tell the people of Ninevah

Preach the message, be undeterred



Written by Geraldine Taylor ©

Between the two, a valley lay

Israelites and Philistines beckoning war

Out of the camp of the Philistines

A towering giant would arise

Heavily clad, defiant and bold

So to sway the staff of his spear

A nation in fear, as was King Saul

Forty days of terror

Armies advancing in battle

Yet to defeat

As Israelites retreat in the sight of David

Stood in dismay

Honours and riches, marital reward

To he who can defeat the giant

A due attack with staff and sling

No sword for him

A trust in the God of the living

A protective guide

With fears aside, a stone was struck

Of awesome power to the giant’s head

Down to the ground, accomplished with sword

An honourable defeat

A nation at peace



Written by Geraldine Taylor ©

A graceful time of ruling

Appointed judge

Ruler of the people, keeper of the land

In a place of promise, Israelites reside

As the year draws near, voyage to Shiloh

Called to worship, offer your sacrifice

Here Hannah would pray

To grant her a son, Lord have your way

A solemn request

To ask of God, an answered prayer

Arrival of Samuel, so to dedicate

From a time of birth, till weaning transpired

His time had come

A due journey to the high-priest

Reflections of the temple

Eli saw she had prayed

A promise fulfilled

Clad in garments of white

Peace be still

Samuel shall stay, Samuel shall serve

In the ministry of the temple

Of valued worth



Written by Geraldine Taylor ©

The children of Israel, standing tall

Jericho and conquests beyond the fall

Possessing Canaan, equipped to defend

Tribes of twelve, of which they descend



From Joshua’s death to the Promised Land

False gods worshipped at every command

Returning to evil ways unpleasantly

God promised judges to bring victory



Israelites oppressed, Philistines of power

The appearing of an angel in a timely hour

The bearing of a son, promised to occur

Delivery from Philistines, was told to her



A chance of hope, not rendered forlorn

Unto mother and father Samson was born

A roaring lion of enemy plans

Samson seized the strength of his hands


Written by Geraldine Taylor ©

As was written, on Mount Sinai

As Moses stood on high, commandments of virtue

A shower of blessings, to bestow upon

As for the people, they adhered not

Unguided minds, an idolised calf of gold

Yet to unfold, in a moment of anger

Stones ****** down, sin was all around, though forgiveness abound

Two further tablets, inscriptions anew

Early on the mount, forty days and nights

At one with the father

Both food and drink – the absence of

From such a return, proceeding down

A glow of brilliance, radiant face

Of whom could stare

Dispel at once

Covering veil

Of such commands, in accordance with

Prosperity stands

To stray from the path, affliction coincides

Worship the Lord

Assemble the Tabernacle

With sacrificial offerings, designated ark

Glory be filled

A time to remain

The cloud has arisen

Journey on



Written by Geraldine Taylor ©

The descendants of which, numerous in size

Yet in such a land, a king would arise

To create slaves and disturb peace

The more he oppressed, they would increase



The harshness of the king’s command

Do away, sons of the land

The anger of the king would grow

Into the river, ordered to throw



Beyond the plight of wrongful deeds

A cradle lay among the reeds

His sister stood yet to abide

Concealed by the riverside



Ever near, the daughter’s king

Heard the cry of suffering

Little child a mother laid

Gave compassion unafraid



The pity that could not evade

A Hebrew woman, princess bade

Abandonment would be adverse

Mother called to take and nurse



A time of blessing to remain

Provision of a rightful name

Brought in age to Pharaoh’s daughter

Moses drawn out of the water



Written by Geraldine Taylor ©