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A gospel in blank verse with rhymed parables<br />
They’re off on their way<br />
To work in his vineyard.<br />
Up comes the sun.<br />
A laugh and a handshake<br />
He hires every one.<br />
Nine in the morning<br />
He’s there, back again<br />
Others are waiting<br />
More unemployed men.<br />
‘What are you doing<br />
Just hanging around?’<br />
That is his question.<br />
‘Oh! We’ve found<br />
No one who wants us.<br />
Nothing today –<br />
We’ll wait. We’re patient<br />
We’ll hope and we’ll stay.’<br />
‘But, come, I can use you<br />
My vineyard’s not small<br />
Just follow my steward<br />
He’ll take you all.’<br />
One hesitated.<br />
‘Wages tonight?’<br />
‘Oh, yes. I’ll pay you.<br />
You’ll get what is right.’<br />
At noon, three and five o’clock<br />
He took on more yet<br />
It seemed that he wanted<br />
Every man he could get.<br />
Then came the evening<br />
The day’s work was done<br />
At least, (one could argue)<br />
A day’s work for some.<br />
The steward was called<br />
‘Make the men form a queue<br />
Late comers first.<br />
I’ll pay them their due.’<br />
He gave one denarius<br />
To those who’d come late<br />
To those who’d worked early<br />
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