Miketz

The Pharaoh's sommelier resumed his post
forgetting Joseph in his dismal plight
until--reminded by the baker's ghost--
he elevates our hero to the light.
Another change of clothes, another role
to guarantee there's bread when there's no rain
exalted migrant, settled in control
when all the nation's wealth is stored in grain.
To reconcile the family's on his head,
while clinching Egypt in his liegelord's hand.
The favored son they'd long presumed was dead
must mask his machinations as "God's plan".
The brothers he's not rushing to forgive
now grovel for the bread by which they live.

Jonah

Three days asea, without a brig, or barque,
once he'd been jettisoned to quell the gale
pent up, like Noah's livestock in the dark,
dour Jonah had no mate to share the whale.
Unwilling to defy God face to face
but shirking his commission as a Jew,
seems disappointed sinners could find grace
Assyrians deserve God's mercy, too.
An angry man, who'd thrill to see them burn
chose ringside seats from which to watch the show,
seemed disappointed strangers' hearts should turn
more pious than his kin who ought to know.
Once called, no prophet ever slips God's leash,
be he in Nineveh, or in Tarshish.