[237 J] [10]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 10
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.”}}
========================================================================
[237 J] [10]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 10
FORTY-SIX
What was in the wilderness?
A man clothed in his finesse?
A wind-bent reed in distress?
As some, prepared to go,
Of John, Jesus would show
Things, that none of them did know.
======================
Firm on what, were their minds set?
Yes, there they saw a prophet;
There, the forerunner they met.
I send, before Your face,
To prepare, for God’s grace,
John - the Lord’s path he will trace.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FORTY-SEVEN
Brood of vipers, tell me now,
Can evil, good speech allow?
To the heart, the mouth must bow.
Good the fruit, so the tree.
Bad the fruit, tree must be.
Tree dictates the fruit, you see.
======================
With wholesome fruits, good men ring.
Evil treasures, bad men bring.
From the heart, results do spring.
Hostile words, pull and tear.
Men’s harsh words, cause despair.
Of careless words, be aware.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FORTY-EIGHT
Levite passed on other side.
Pharisee - he tried to hide.
All others, just walked on by.
Mugged, a man lying ill,
By the road, very still.
To reach Jericho - his will.
======================
Samaritan, needs addressed.
Poured in oil and wine - the best.
Paid innkeeper, as own guest.
Foreigner, showed pity.
Truly, a neighbour was he.
So like him, in kindness be.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FORTY-NINE
Cunning Herod, bold and sly;
On that fox, could not rely.
Called secretly, the Magi.
Questioned them, of the star
They had seen, from afar.
Wicked motive - right on par.
======================
But they were warned, in a dream
Not to join, with Herod’s team.
Herod’s plans - not what they seem.
Herod - Edomite defiled
Mounted sins - upward piled.
Tried to kill, the Holy Child.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FIFTY
Mother-in-law, sick in bed.
Fever raging, through her head.
Feared by some, she’d join those dead.
Jesus came, to the house.
Mother, of Peter’s spouse,
Lay as quiet, as a mouse.
======================
Jesus, moved with compassion,
Healed her, with love’s full ration.
Consistent - this His fashion.
Jesus then, touched her hand.
Fever gone - she could stand.
Waited on, that happy band.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Done around the third quarter, 1997
Metre: 7-7-7-6-6-7
Ron Ferguson