When Lot's Wife

Lot loved the pace, the buzz, the lights

the place in the shade by an ancient gate

Placed in a valley, lovely, given

an easy walk to the corner bar

The others were heathen, boisterous, many

Lot was at ease with their city ways 

But he was grayer, with daughters betrothed

dreaming of grandchildren on his knee

One day like others, pleasant, quiet

there in the shade by the ancient gate

Came in two strangers, striding, handsome

who seemed to know him, so very strange

They gave a warning, urgent, frightening

gather your family and leave here right now

But laughing, teasing, disrespectful

his daughter's betrothed refused go

Evening came quickly, darkness, worries,

which frightened Lot by the ancient gate

Convinced the strangers, inside, right now

We'll leave tomorrow after packing our things

Outside were large mobs, young men, old men,

the entire town seemed crazed with lust

Send out the strangers! Do it! Quickly!

Prove old man that you're one of us

Driven by tradition, to welcome, protect

Lot went outside near the ancient gate

Please take my daughters, lovely, virgins

his desperate bargain fell on deaf ears

Out of the way! Unlock it! We'll smash it!

The strangers grabbed Lot and pulled him inside

Zap! Came a bright light, blindness, confusion

several more hours till morning would come

At dawn they were leaving, the couple and daughters

out to the mountains through the ancient gate

But Lot pleaded old bones, a village, much shorter

those strangers said hurry, don't even look back

The sky became darkness with fire and brimstone

earth became Hell in the once verdant plain

A strong wind was chasing, boiling and salty

encrusted the woman who had stopped in her tracks

Approaching a village, the father, his daughters

standing outside by its ancient gate

Would this place be next? Lot wondered, he worried

must leave for the mountains before it's too late

Onward they traveled, arriving, exhausted

set up a tent in a place by itself

Alarmed by the prospect, without men, no families

the daughters conspired and got father drunk

At this point dear children, please listen, remember

you each have a place by an ancient gate

Your cities are lovely, thriving, sweet customs

but judgment is coming, maybe sooner than late

Will dawn find you praying or anxious and running

are things all that different from Sodom, Gomore

Is your life in Jesus, reborn and different

or will you be longing and stop to look back