[237 D] [4]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 4
They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. Primarily they are meant more to be read aloud, than read silently as normal poems. They require voice flexibility and expression/intonation/varying speed.
I have placed commas in places where commas don’t normally go but they are there for a distinct short pause. The word before the pause has a more marked emphasis and the first word after the comma is emphasised on the very first syllable. It is like each line is in two short parts. There is inflection and expression in each line. For example –
See him sit, . . . . at Jesus’ feet.
Satan’s power, . . . . met defeat.
In his right mind, . . . . now discreet.
After a while you will feel a balance - I hope! There are twelve of these sections with 5 short scenes in each. The particular incidents are not named here but are done so at the end of my originals, in a table. I don’t think you will have much difficulty identifying them.
They are all written in two stanzas of six lines each with the rhyme scheme: A-A-A-B B-B. The same metre is used throughout: 7-7-7-6-6-7. I trust you will enjoy these and catch something of the excitement of these Gospel incidents.
The incidents written about are both parables and stories of Jesus.
{{Matthew 13:10-13 The disciples came and said to Him, “WHY DO YOU SPEAK TO THEM IN PARABLES?” and He answered and said to them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted, for whoever has to him shall more be given and he shall have an abundance, but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. THEREFORE I SPEAK TO THEM IN PARABLES because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”}}
{{Luke 1:1-4 “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”}}
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[237 D] [4]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 4
SIXTEEN
Ten lepers, at a distance
Called out, for His assistance.
Near a village, this instance.
“Pity, Jesus, Master!”
Our leprous disaster
Just spreads, among us faster.
======================
“Show yourselves.” - To the priest, sent.
They were cleansed, as off they went.
Gone from them, their sad lament.
“Thank you, God,” one returned.
When of his cleansing, learned.
Thankfulness, nine of them spurned.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SEVENTEEN
Why did Jesus, not respond?
Of Lazarus, He was fond.
Surely, there was strong, a bond?
At Bethany, he died.
Tomb, saw him sealed inside.
Mary, Martha’s grief was wide.
======================
Gathered all, around the grave.
How would Jesus, there behave?
Their brother back, them He gave.
“Lazarus, come forth now!”
Death’s fingers, must allow
Its grip released, from his brow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
EIGHTEEN
Grasped the crumbs, off the table.
Grabbed what scraps, he was able.
“Beggar man!” was his label.
Beggar died; rich man, too.
Paradise; hell for you.
Bosom rest; but fire, true.
======================
Gulf between us, wide is fixed.
Your side and mine, can’t be mixed.
No pathway, ever betwixt.
None, from the dead return.
From the Word, let them learn.
Life and death, they must discern.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NINETEEN
On a bed, they lowered him;
Paralysed, and terribly thin.
Removed the roof, in the din.
His healing words, to hear,
To Jesus, they came near,
But the crush, was too severe.
======================
Meeting Jesus, was their aim.
Through the roof, the pallet came.
Caused the people, to exclaim.
Thus far, faith had striven.
“Your sins, are forgiven.”
From his bed, then had risen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TWENTY
Pharisees, in their blind state,
Did not know, their lost estate.
To God’s truth, could not relate.
Can the blind, lead the blind?
One before, and one behind?
Pits, are what they both, will find.
======================
Let me, remove your splinter!
Let me, your eye, dig deeper!
Your problem, I must enter.
Hypocrite, you brother!
Your problem, is other!
Your beams, your vision, smother.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Done around the third quarter, 1997
Metre: = 7-7-7-6-6-7 AAABBB