never mind lords-a-leaping
ladies dancing, drummers drumming
and far too much assorted bird-life
nor even those five gold rings
never mind that night
sleeping out beneath the stars
well maybe not so much sleeping
as discovering passion, love even
today it all comes to this
a business deal at the city gate
redeeming the family inheritance
land for sale and with it me
or the land the sweetener
for taking on the widow
to keep the name alive
a responsibility many avoid
trading begins, Boaz and a relative
to one I'm a liability, to be shunned
for the other a prize to be won
they haggle, it's my life yet
and now the deal is done
as witnessed by the elders
paid for, should I be offended
or rejoice, my future secured
doing what needs to be done
what survival here, now requires
a man's imagination and heart
capture, possibilities create
Jan 7
Jan 7, 2026 at 3:02 PM UTC
never mind lords-a-leaping
ladies dancing, drummers drumming
and far too much assorted bird-life
nor even those five gold rings
never mind that night
sleeping out beneath the stars
well maybe not so much sleeping
as discovering passion, love even
today it all comes to this
a business deal at the city gate
redeeming the family inheritance
land for sale and with it me
or the land the sweetener
for taking on the widow
to keep the name alive
a responsibility many avoid
trading begins, Boaz and a relative
to one I'm a liability, to be shunned
for the other a prize to be won
they haggle, it's my life yet
and now the deal is done
as witnessed by the elders
paid for, should I be offended
or rejoice, my future secured
doing what needs to be done
what survival here, now requires
a man's imagination and heart
capture, possibilities create
5th January 2026
Twelfth Day of Christmas
cf. Ruth 4
Stephen Cooper
