Benjamin

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What is it that a father finds in one 
            to favor over others? 
Did Isaac know what grace was his 
            in primogeniture 
                        while Ishmael wandered? 

Did Esau find 
            his father’s way not right 
And think the issue 
            of the pottage just 
                        a specious way 
                                    to further 
                                                predestination, 

To choose my father— 

He passed along that 
            odd selection too, 
So Joseph was his pet— 

I heard him say that Rachel 
            was his love, 
                        and saw her eyes 
                                    in Joseph’s face. 

I know such ancient tales 
            of brothers— 
                        one chosen, 
                                    the other not, 
                                                inexplicably— 

And like Abel’s brother 
            wish I knew 
                        why God must choose.