‘Tis for the Shepherd to lead the flock
And not the other way around
Else, neither Shepherd nor the flock
Will ever again be found.

‘Tis for the Shepherd to care for the flock
From Sunrise to Sundown,
Nights are meant for rest and sleep
Not for display of the glory of the glittering Crown.

If the Shepherd can’t manage his flock
They will all in a Wilderness  be,
The Shepherd as lost as the sheep
There is here no great mystery.

Good Shepherds are caring of heart
And that’s all they’re supposed to do,
Be like the thorn for a Rose in the garden
The guardian Angel, the friend true

But, Shepherds are also with blemishes
As are all the Lord’s creations,
So long as the heart is pure and content
Not prone to machinations.

The flock must not only bleat
Baa Baa, Black sheep not enough,
When the Shepherd strays off the beaten track
The flock must stand tough.

‘Tis a marriage of sorts
‘Tween the Shepherd and the flock,
Time moves on, relentlessly
With no eyes on the ticking clock.

(The author is a prolific poet who has over 40 poetry books to his credit. He can be reached at ashoksawhny06@gmail.com/ www.ashoksawhny.com)