"In the Second Year of King Darius," poetry

Revised Edition: LukivPress (Victoria, BC), 2022. Introduction Jews in Babylon re-patriated Jerusalem in 539 BCE. Now, in 520, how many years have passed since they laid the foundation of Jehovah's temple in that city? Sixteen. Of course, they have completed this house of worship, haven't they? Didn't they return from Babylonish captivity to re-establish true worship of Jehovah in their homeland? They have not completed the temple! They have not addressed their spiritual needs! Jehovah uses Haggai to re-vitalize the Jews into action, to rebuild their house of God. Five years later, they will complete the temple that will last even longer (515 BCE to 70 CE) than Solomon's (1027 to 607 BCE). Faithful Haggai serves his God throughout this time period. Likewise, in the last days of this system of things, Jehovah's people serve him, but not as temple builders; rather, as faithful preachers who teach globally about his kingdom that will bring peace to the earth. An excerpt (18 lines from the poem based on chapter 1) Dewdrops no longer
Adorn blades of grass;
Olives have withdrawn, Like the rock badger;
In the valley, seeds of
Grain sleep; clouds Swallow themselves;
Vinegar laughs at gums
That sting; flasks of oil- Who poured them out?
Who stopped the grapes
From filling with juice So that they might feel
Firm like the fig? O
The flies upon the sheep That no longer bleat,
The goat that cannot
Provide milk for cheese- The author Dan Lukiv, published in 19 countries, is a poet, novelist, columnist, short story and article writer, and independent education researcher (hermeneutic phenomenology). As a creative writer, he apprenticed with Canada's Professor Robert Harlow (recipient of the George Woodcock Achievement award for an outstanding literary career), the USA's Paul Bagdon (Spur Award finalist for Best Original Paperback), and England's D. M. Thomas (recipient of the Cheltenham Prize for Literature, Orwell Prize [biography], Los Angeles Fiction Prize, and Cholmondeley award for poetry). He attended The University of British Columbia (creative writing department), the acclaimed Humber School for Writers (poetry writing program), and Writer's Digest University (novel writing program).