Based on Luke 5:27-32
Laughter fills the customs house,
Coins and merry mingle-jingle,
A bit for you, a bit for me,
The rest on to the king-ring.
Labor on the shore is hard,
The fields are hot-rot,
No calloused hands here,
Only calloused heart-start.
Matthew and his friends collect,
Taxes and more-score,
Friends abound around,
And money buys them more-poor.
Parties every night,
Work with bleary eyes-tries,
Wine, women, song and sin,
The best of life there is-miss.
One approaches coin in hand,
His look strikes the heart-part,
Levi looks in disbelief,
His heart no longer clinging-singing.
To this One he’ll now cling,
His new life intertwined-fined,
Leave the counter’s table,
Take up the angel’s quill-distill.
All saints, a sinner’s past,
Oh death where art thou sting-fling,
All saints a founded hope,
On Jesus Christ the King-sing!
If you liked this poem, my new book of poetry, The Last Dragon and Other Poems is available now. This poem is not in the book but will be in the next one!
Free Rosary
As part of my Lenten penance I’ve decided to give away many of my handmade rosaries. You can get one for FREE here on our website. Add a cord-knot rosary to your cart and use the code: FreeRosary at checkout. You’ll only pay for shipping: $4.90.
Feel free to share this code with friends and make my Lent one full of calloused fingers from making so many rosaries!!
(One use per customer. US Only. Not compatible with other discount codes. Cord-Knot Rosary with Twine Cross Only. Offer ends April 4th, 2026.)
James M. Hahn, Author 