Poem on Matthew 15.10-20

The question: "What defiles?"

is worth thinking about for a little while

If we don't know our problem's culprit

How can we find how to solve it?

I'd like to think-it's what goes in

The evil's "out there" that makes me sin

Evil shops, and other folks, and of course TV

All those outside forces defiling me.

But, Jesus questions my presupposition

with a clear and personal suggestion:

"Your defilement doesn't "out there" start

but deep within your broken heart.

So closing eyes-ears-mouth, washing hands won't do

The problem's deep deep inside of you.

You can't perform your own heart transplant

My own heart, to you I grant.