I originally wrote Ruth as a school assignment in September 2024. My mom told me I should share it, so I pulled it back out and did a bit more editing before presenting it to you, my blog readers.
This poem is based on the Biblical book of Ruth. I've done my best to stay faithful to the original true story found in the Bible, although I have taken poetic license here and there. If you've never read Ruth's story in the Bible, you can start here. I do hope you enjoy my narrative poem, Ruth. Thanks for stopping by!
I.
Happiness seems to be slipping through Naomi’s outstretched hand
like so many grains of elusive, shining sand.
She came to Moab desperate to find the things her family sought after—
peace, joy, fullness, and laughter.
Like so many grains of elusive, falling sand
Happiness has evaded Naomi in this Yahweh-forsaken land.
Peace, joy, fullness, laughter—
All of these have left her. Security is what her uneasy soul desperately seeks after.
Happiness has evaded Naomi in this Yahweh-forsaken land.
She can no longer feel God’s protective hand.
Even this has left her. Security is what her uneasy soul desperately seeks after.
“LORD!” her soul cries, “do you even care? Has my plight escaped your holy eyes?”
II.
Naomi has made up her mind.
She will bid her daughters-in-law goodbye, and leave Moab far, far behind.
With no one to provide for her needs, she will return to Israel.
Before Naomi had left, she’d christened Israel ‘famine hell.’
She will bid her daughters-in-law goodbye, and leave Moab far, far behind.
“No,” Ruth says, “Where you go, I’ll go. It will be as if we are one person, of one mind.”
Before Naomi had left, she’d christened Israel ‘famine hell.’
To Naomi, Moab now seems even worse than Israel.
“No,” Ruth says, “Where you go, I’ll go. It will be as if we are one person, of one mind.”
Ruth knows little of Israel, yet she knows the courage this move will require her to find.
To Naomi, Moab now seems even worse than Israel.
Ruth will need strength to be brave, and to trust that Yahweh will provide.
III.
Life in Israel looks hard and bleak. Ruth and Naomi, widowed and empty.
With no man to provide, Ruth longs to supply her mother-in-law with plenty.
Ruth goes gleaning in the grain field, gathering all that she can find.
Boaz, owner of the field where Ruth gleans, sees her, goes beyond just being kind.
With no man to provide, Ruth longs to supply her mother-in-law with plenty.
She gleans from morning til night on a stomach half empty.
Boaz, owner of the field where Ruth gleans, sees her, goes beyond just being kind.
He orders his servants to pull extra grain from the sheaves, leaving it for her to find.
She gleans from morning til night on a stomach half empty.
Boaz sees the way Ruth treats her mother-in-law. It goes beyond just being kind.
He orders his servants to pull extra grain from the sheaves, leaving it for her to find.
Invites her to share his harvest day meal, goes beyond just being kind.
IV.
“He’s a relative,” Naomi ventures, “perhaps he will redeem us and my land.
“You must beg him to redeem us, ask him boldly to accept your hand.
“Perhaps he will save us, give us the security my soul cries after.
“Perhaps he’ll give us peace, joy, fullness, and laughter.”
“You must beg him to redeem us, ask him boldly to accept your hand.”
Naomi’s words rang in Ruth’s head as she lay at Boaz’s feet, obeying what Naomi had planned.
She lay silently, humbly next to Boaz’s sleeping form.
Boaz awoke, his feet cold and uncovered. He sat up to rearrange the blanket so he’d be warm.
Naomi’s words rang in Ruth’s head as she lay at Boaz’s feet, obeying what Naomi had planned.
She felt Boaz shift, held her breath, said a quick prayer. “Please let me catch that shining sand.”
Boaz awoke, his feet cold and uncovered. He sat up to arrange the blanket as it had been before.
A young woman knelt at his feet, eyes wide, questioning, hopeful, courage shining from her core.
V.
She felt Boaz shift, held her breath, said a quick prayer. “Please let me catch this shining sand.”
Am I dreaming? Boaz questioned, awkwardly staring, blanket forgotten in his hand.
A young woman knelt at his feet, eyes wide, questioning, hopeful, courage shining from her core.
“Sir, it is I, Ruth.” she cried, “I ask that you redeem me,” she said with desperate candour.
Am I dreaming? Boaz questioned, awkwardly staring, blanket forgotten in his hand.
“Please, sir,” her tone was breathless, she spoke quickly, praying he’d save Naomi’s land.
“I beg you to consider my plight and save me and mine!” Boaz admired the candour of her plea.
He listened between the lines and recognized it as a request not just for herself, but for Naomi.
Boaz held out his hand to slow her torrent of desperate speech, hushing her courageous plea.
“Ruth,” he said, “there is one who comes before me.
“I must give him a chance to do his duty, as it is by law his lot.
“Lie down. At first light I will seek out the first redeemer. I will redeem you if he will not.”
VI.
“I will not do it,” the first redeemer intoned, “Redeem her if you choose.”
Boaz hurried away from the gate. He must find Ruth and share the good news!
He smiled. This duty would be a delight to perform.
What better wife could he possibly find? Just thinking of her made his heart grow warm.
He must find Ruth and share the good news! A wedding next fall, maybe.
“There you are!” His face shone with pure joy at the sight of this young lady.
What better wife could he possibly find? Just thinking of her made his heart grow warm.
Soon she’d be his, this courageous young lady who dared go against the cultural norm.
“There you are!” His face shone with pure joy at the sight of this young lady.
“I have good news. I am honoured and able to redeem you!” Boaz smiled broadly.
“It would be an honour to share a new life with you and Naomi.
“The LORD will surely bless us with peace, joy, fullness, and laughter.”