Poem: The Kingdom of Heaven

A short piece on Matthew 13:45-46. I've grown up with the interpretation that we are the merchant and Christ is the pearl; however, I've recently heard another interpretation where Christ is the merchant instead. This poem is a reflection on the latter.

When first the Merchant found us, we were sand—

The dusty kind, to fall from heavy tread

As error’s mark, and stubbornly embed

Ourselves, and blur out sinners’ eyes. The sand

Of fools that would not hear or understand,

But vainly build upon its dusty bed

Their faulty monuments. And some had said,

That He would cast us back into the land

And soil from whence we came. But then instead

He blew to warm us gently in His hand,

And turned us o’er and o’er, then let uncurl

His fingers from his now-stripped palm. Outspread,

We saw the light, and knew. Though we were sand,

It was His love that rendered us a pearl.