Goat and Ladder

I saw a goat from Jacob's Ladder
Saw it wandering far from me
I saw a scapegoat from Jacob's Ladder
Stumbling under the load that had staggered me

My heart went out from Jacob's Ladder
I wanted to set that poor goat free
I reached out a hand from on that ladder
I longed to do something tenderly

But I heard a voice from up Jacob's Ladder
Warning, "Let that scapegoat be"
I heard a cry from above that ladder
"Justice, drive it on relentlessly!"

I heard a weeping up Jacob's Ladder
As the goat strayed beyond where I could see
My tears, too, ran down that ladder
For that goat was banished because of me

© Matthew Schilling April 2015