Caesarea
Yesterday, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in Tel Aviv. Then we loaded the car and headed up the coast to Caesarea. Nestled on the sea, Caesarea is rich with Roman and Crusader archeological ruins. The history is fascinating. Here are some of the sights we enjoyed.
Craggy coastline of Caesarea
One of many archways leading to the marina built by Herod.
Contrast of the growth of indigenous plants amongst the archeological ruins. 
Broken feet from a colossal statue of a Roman god
Below are three short poems I wrote when I saw the ruins in Caesarea
trilogy of a roman god
I. Maybe Some Roman
Broken feet from a colossal statute of a Roman god
gleam in the Mediterranean sunshine.
Once maybe some Roman soldier
bowed down and grabbed
the feet of this god in worship.
Maybe some Roman soldier
kissed its toes and hugged its ankles—seeking
the blessing of this
stone-cold statue. But such faith had one Roman soldier
that Jesus said his was the greatest faith
in all of Israel. That Roman soldier
maybe worshiped stone-cold gods at one time.
But when Jesus came through, the Roman soldier believed,
he just knew, that Jesus could speak the word from a distance
that would raise his daughter from her deathbed.
II. the feet of a roman god
these are the feet of a roman god.
they are magnanimous, colossal,
strong, enduring, beautiful, and
as white as purity.
they are everything a god should be.
but they are not pierced.
III. Only His Feet Remain
Only his feet remain,
Roman god of Caesarea.
His body is destroyed,
crushed to powder,
with two feet to show.
I cannot think of him now.
I can only ponder
the sacrificial truth
the tempered truth
the tried truth about
the beautiful feet
that carry the Good News
to the nations of the gods.
After a long and lovely day of touring, we are settled into our rooms at Kibbutz Nof Ginosaur on the shores of the Galilee. The view took our breath away as we rounded the corner of the highway and saw the Sea of Galilee before us. Just to think that Jesus walked the hills and shores surrounding the Galilee. More to come.
Beautiful day in Caesarea
Bonnie,
The first poem about the feet was so powerful in that you brought the whole theme down in the last line “But they are not pierced”. That is the best way – leave the reader’s ears ringing! Say the last word that leaves the reader speechless. Take their breath away by a singular unimitable utterance!
Thanks, Lamar, for your encouragement!
Bonnie