{"id":2941,"date":"2011-10-09T23:01:52","date_gmt":"2011-10-09T23:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/?p=2941"},"modified":"2017-08-01T20:59:32","modified_gmt":"2017-08-01T20:59:32","slug":"do-it-unto-the-least-of-these","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2011\/10\/09\/do-it-unto-the-least-of-these\/","title":{"rendered":"Do It Unto the Least of These"},"content":{"rendered":"
    \n
  1. He clasped the coal, still glowing red, from off his wooden floor<\/li>\n
  2. And placed it back within the flame. A knock was at his door.<\/li>\n
  3. T\u2019was dark outside and very late, and the snow fell thick and hard.<\/li>\n
  4. He knew not of a single soul who would trek across his yard.<\/li>\n
  5. He cautiously stood from his knees and crept across the room.<\/li>\n
  6. Unsure who waited there outside beneath the crescent moon.<\/li>\n
  7. His hand reached out, then paused a bit, then grabbed the metal latch.<\/li>\n
  8. Pulling down, familiar creaks, and then the lock did catch.<\/li>\n
  9. Before his face stood weary thin, a man so dark and frail.<\/li>\n
  10. His bony hands, chapped and raw, gripped the iron rail.<\/li>\n
  11. His clothes were thin, ripped and worn. No hat was on his head.<\/li>\n
  12. T\u2019was in his hand, upside down, a dark and dirty red.<\/li>\n
  13. His eyes looked back, dark and wide, and shadowed from the light.<\/li>\n
  14. His hair was long and full of knots and pathetic to the sight.<\/li>\n
  15. His bearded chin began to quake, and parched lips began to part.<\/li>\n
  16. His words were short and almost dead, but shot straight to the heart.<\/li>\n
  17. He brought him in and sat him down upon a wooden chest.<\/li>\n
  18. The man obliged, moving slow, grateful for the rest.<\/li>\n
  19. The stranger\u2019s boots were taken off to dry beside the fire.<\/li>\n
  20. His feet were bare, no socks in sight, and sore and wet and tired.<\/li>\n
  21. A blanket fell, thick and dry, upon his crooked back.<\/li>\n
  22. A ceramic tub soaked his feet, misshapen and quite cracked.<\/li>\n
  23. Within a moment, a platter sat upon his feeble lap.<\/li>\n
  24. With bread and cheese, an apple too, and water from the tap.<\/li>\n
  25. When he was done, he was led across the narrow hall.<\/li>\n
  26. To a spacious room, with a double bed, and a mirror on the wall.<\/li>\n
  27. The mattress firm, the blankets heavy, laid well upon himself.<\/li>\n
  28. And as he closed his heavy eyes, he glanced toward a shelf.<\/li>\n
  29. When the host awoke that morn and rose from off the floor<\/li>\n
  30. He saw the boots were now long gone and his guest was too no more.<\/li>\n
  31. The bed was made, the covers tight, and a book lay there on top.<\/li>\n
  32. He lifted it, glanced the page and then his eyes did stop.<\/li>\n
  33. He saw the words from long ago describe what he had done.<\/li>\n
  34. He saw a man in need of care and brought him in his home.<\/li>\n
  35. And now the words he read just then caused guilt and pain, regret.<\/li>\n
  36. For he had paused and questioned why to help this stranger yet.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    He clasped the coal, still glowing red, from off his wooden floor And placed it back within the flame. A knock was at his door. T\u2019was dark outside and very late, and the snow fell thick and hard. He knew not of a single soul who would trek across his yard. He cautiously stood from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poetry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4NkW7-Lr","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3087,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2011\/10\/09\/tokens-of-a-tired-man\/","url_meta":{"origin":2941,"position":0},"title":"Tokens of a Tired Man","author":"Kim Siever","date":"9 October 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"There was a man of youth and such who wore the dress of teens, Of T-shirts, runners, baseball caps, and endless pairs of jeans. His skin was smooth; his hands were fresh, just dirty from some play. Energetic, so he was, and full of zest each day. His hair was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3030,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2017\/01\/16\/the-god-machine\/","url_meta":{"origin":2941,"position":1},"title":"The God Machine","author":"Kim Siever","date":"16 January 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I came across a snack machine, or so I thought it was. As I got close, I found instead, something that made me pause. There were no snacks inside, I saw, in\u00a0each cramped numbered slot. Rather, shockingly I\u2019d say, were several different gods. Some were white, and some were black,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith crisis poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Faith crisis poetry","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/faith-crisis-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/japan-682010_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/japan-682010_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/japan-682010_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/japan-682010_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/japan-682010_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3227,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2018\/01\/24\/four-trees\/","url_meta":{"origin":2941,"position":2},"title":"Four Trees","author":"Kim Siever","date":"24 January 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Once there was an orchard small of four trees in a row. Planted by a gardener, from seedlings she did grow. Nurtured, pruned, and shepherded, a sight now to behold, Underneath their branches wide, four stories did unfold. Fruit upon the first was dark and light and soursweet. Life bestowed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Heavenly Mother"","block_context":{"text":"Heavenly Mother","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/heavenly-mother\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/11\/forest-2984960_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C731&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/11\/forest-2984960_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C731&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/11\/forest-2984960_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C731&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/11\/forest-2984960_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C731&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/11\/forest-2984960_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C731&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2929,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2011\/10\/09\/a-mountain-journey\/","url_meta":{"origin":2941,"position":3},"title":"A Mountain Journey","author":"Kim Siever","date":"9 October 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"A metal box encased by forest Held treasure deep inside. Dark as night and cold as steel Yet something did abide. Something big, something warm, And round just like the moon. Something quiet, something known, And like an angel\u2019s tune. And then it\u2019s opened amid the cries And darkness flees\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2957,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2016\/11\/08\/beckoning\/","url_meta":{"origin":2941,"position":4},"title":"Beckoning","author":"Kim Siever","date":"8 November 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Extinguished fire, now cold and dark, that blazed once bright and sure, That warmed my self, my heart, my soul and made my spirit pure, I watched you die as rain poured down and choked your fighting flames. I frantically worked day and night to save you; \u2019twas in vain.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith crisis poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Faith crisis poetry","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/faith-crisis-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/fire-1769376_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/fire-1769376_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/fire-1769376_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/fire-1769376_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/fire-1769376_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3424,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2018\/07\/01\/into-the-dark-of-the-depths\/","url_meta":{"origin":2941,"position":5},"title":"Into the Dark of the Depths","author":"Kim Siever","date":"1 July 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Into the dark of the depths Sapping and draining my breath Diving away from the light Vanish from surface's sight Alone in my silent descent Away from the cries of repent But there at the bottom so still A new light my empty soul fill Listen","rel":"","context":"In "Faith crisis poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Faith crisis poetry","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/faith-crisis-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/07\/ca2fb090-ec68-4b8e-b74f-70eee7068c4e-417-0000002acf5fd8b2.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/07\/ca2fb090-ec68-4b8e-b74f-70eee7068c4e-417-0000002acf5fd8b2.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/07\/ca2fb090-ec68-4b8e-b74f-70eee7068c4e-417-0000002acf5fd8b2.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/07\/ca2fb090-ec68-4b8e-b74f-70eee7068c4e-417-0000002acf5fd8b2.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/07\/ca2fb090-ec68-4b8e-b74f-70eee7068c4e-417-0000002acf5fd8b2.jpg?fit=1200%2C763&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2941","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2941"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2941\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2942,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2941\/revisions\/2942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}