When he was strong he plotted
Beginning from his mother’s belly
Snatching first place was second nature
Winning was game-unfairly
If needed he would drag the heel
Trip others and slip like an eel

He gave his father the slip
When old and blind he spooked
Him with fake hairy fur
To think he was favoured Esau
He scooped his father’s blessing
Leaving his elder to rue the lesson

A great lesson it was
For trifling meat in scorching heat
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob
And for pottage messed his heritage

Twice denied and deprived
Esau began to hunt for his prey
But the Supplanter is more attuned to flight
Than an honest bare-knucled fight
So he fled to his mother’s land

There he flourished too
A servant that became greater
In all respects than his master
Contriving to thrive by sleight of stick

His flock was great and stock greater
But reckoning was drawing near
A danger that no art could neuter
There was lurking-an angry brother

As Jacob went on his merry way
He was told the news-the scorned
Was bearing the rod of vengeance
Easu was hunting with sunburned
Hate-simmering for an explosive chance

Strength in the conjuring arts
Useless in realm of martial arts
Was all he had to face the foe
Collision would be one-sided woe

Then he met the Angel
And wrestled all night
To settle the question for the ages
He held one till he was blessed
Transformed to one of the sages

The Angel touched his thigh
The sinew shrank
Producing a limping limb
He changed Jacob’s rank
Made him a Prince with God
Israel the elect of the Lord

If you had seen a sleep-deprived man
Wearily limping after dawn
The doppelganger of an astute supplanter
Would you have thought him stronger
Or weaker for the encounter?

But the limping man was greater
Than anything the shrewd and strong
Ever was-no earthly prince
Could stand before him
Out of weakness he became strong