Across the Sea of Galilee,

A multitude kept pace;

They had seen the sick restored

And followed every trace.

Jesus climbed the mountain,

Sat where all could see,

Then watched the crowd come nearer

Like a tide beneath his feet.

"Whence shall we buy bread

That all of these may eat?"

He knew what he would do,

But let the question test belief.

Philip counted silver:

"Two hundred pennyworth

Would scarcely give a little bite

To everyone on earth."

Andrew found a small boy

With a simple midday store:

Five barley loaves, two little fish,

And thousands needing more.

"What are they among so many?"

The numbers spoke their fear.

But scarcity had met the hands

That made abundance near.

Five barley loaves,

Two fishes in his hands,

Thanks rose before the breaking,

Then plenty crossed the land.

Five barley loaves,

A gift that looked too small;

When Jesus blessed and gave it out,

There was enough for all.

"Make the people sit down."

Green grass became the floor.

Five thousand men were ordered there,

With hunger at the door.

He took the bread and thanked God,

Then passed it through the rows;

The fish went where the hunger was,

And still the portion flowed.

Five barley loaves,

Two fishes in his hands,

Thanks rose before the breaking,

Then plenty crossed the land.

Five barley loaves,

A gift that looked too small;

When Jesus blessed and gave it out,

There was enough for all.

"Gather every fragment;

Let nothing here be lost."

The meal that began with almost none

Left more than it had cost.

Twelve baskets stood as witnesses,

Full after all were fed;

The broken pieces preached the sign

Long after hunger fled.

The people saw a prophet

And reached for earthly power:

"Take him now and make him king,

This must become the hour."

But Jesus knew their purpose

And would not wear that claim;

He left the crown they tried to force

And climbed the hill alone.

Five barley loaves,

Two fishes in his hands,

A child released the little,

And plenty crossed the land.

Five barley loaves,

Twelve baskets after all;

The gift was small, the need was great,

But there was enough for all.

The crowd reached for a crown.

He withdrew to the mountain alone.