Shoeless Mo'

Why did God command Moses
to remove his shoes
before the Burning Bush,
high among the crags of Sinai?

Scripture reveals that all things
in God's luminous stare
must be Holy.
Shoes would have defiled the earth --
only bared soles
dared tread there.

Or was someone afraid
Moses had bombs beneath his feet?
Perhaps Security Seraphs had tagged
the dazed, staggering shepherd
"Suspicious".

After all, he was schooled
in the blasphemies of Egypt.
He had dwelled in palaces
adorned with false gods.
He had raised up
ten-story, dog-faced idols
with the blood of slaves.

It was in Pharoah's interest
to nip Exodus in the bud --
who better to size up Yahweh
than a Hebrew by birth?

And thus, when Moses fell down
upon his knees,
beholden to the Fire that spoke,
God's minions hurriedly checked
the tattered footwear.

No explosives -- just the scent
of leather and sweat.

Scott Speck
12/26/2001