A villanelle on Matthew 11:2-11.
In prison, John sent word to find,
“Are You the one, or must we wait?”—
the signs of hope for all mankind.
The blind now see, captives unbind,
the deaf can hear, the lame walk straight, —
in prison, John sent word to find.
The lepers cleansed, the lost aligned,
the Gospel preached to those of poor estate, —
the signs of hope for all mankind.
The works of God in Christ combined,
revealing love so wide and great, —
in prison, John sent word to find.
“No reed in wind, no king reclined,
but prophet bold, My way to relate
the signs of hope for all mankind.
“The least in God’s great realm defined
is greater still in Heaven’s estate.”
In prison, John sent word to find
the signs of hope for all mankind.
The Lutheran Column 