Another flashback: the new king arrives on his mule. But this is from the Old Testament and is a foreshadowing of the true king. This is Solomon who arrives, like his descendant would do centuries later, triumphantly but humbly to receive his kingdom.

Noise in the City

(1 Kings 1:32-53)

Lo,

The king-to-be comes

On the back of a mule,

His father’s mule,

And the people sing

And sound their flutes to say,

The new king is come!

Long live the King!

But hark: amidst the noise

Of the people and their flutes

In the city, the false priests and

The army cringe, mutter: What

Is that noise in the city? What

Is it’s meaning, all of this noise?

The news – a new king, the son

Of the King, the new King is come –

Meets with their anger. Surely not

Now! This cannot be true. And so

They cling to the horns of the altar

In dread and fear, cling and cringe

While in the city, the noise resounds.

Lo, the new king is come,

On the back of a mule.

On his father’s mule,

the son of the King comes.