By: Quina Parchment

We are sent

            through hallways and staircases

                        (then up ladders to window-sealed office spaces)

            as an ignorant, illiterate flock

            into the mouths of twisted,

                        hungry wolves

                        with shiny, pearly teeth

Most of us not sheep, but goats with itching ears

            Graduate as wolves, proud to be a part of the pack

Some of us wolves in sheep clothing

            Trained by the elders to teach seductive deception

Very few of us feeble sheep,

            Prone to stray

            Foolish and weak

            Helpless, except

Our Good Shepherd protects us,

            Laid His life down for His sheep

                        To pick it up again,

            Will not allow us to be plucked

                        From His mighty hand

            His Father chose us to be

                        vessels by which He

                                    would  confound the wise, strong,

                                    and things that are in this world

            That no flesh could boast in His presence

            To do this gave Him pleasure

But we are killed all the day long

And lined up for the slaughter

Where is our Shepherd?

To the right of His Father, sitting

His work for us complete, but interceding,

Waiting to return and gather our scattered bodies

While we groan,

We count it all joy to fellowship in our Shepherd’s sufferings

Soon we will know

The fullness of His joy, incomparable glory

May we learn and trust You

            Whose Word, firmly fixed in the heavens,

            Is our praise, and depicts the greatest story:

Jesus Christ,

Pearl of immeasurable price

Wisdom personified

Grace and truth

Forgive our world’s leaders and university teachers

For they know not what they do.