Sunday, November 25, 2012

Opposite Poem...from Why Is It? to It Is This Way

Poetics Aside Prompt: Write an opposite poem. That is, write a poem with the opposite perspective, conclusion, or form of a prior poem in the month.

 Photo



Why is it
When we shake our fists at God
We forget
To unclench our fingers
And stare at our palms…
…are there nail scars there?

Why is it
That we hunger and thirst
For crumbs on the floor
When the Banquet Feast
Is prepared and ready to serve
On the table

Why is it
That even as we cry ‘all is grace’
Doubt is an evil serpent
With fangs gaping
And all we can do is cry
‘I believe’
And ‘help my unbelief’?

Why is it
When our mouths hemorrhage with curses
We forget;
The one thing we can never utter
Is redemption
His final words
Before He died

Why is it
That we choose to
Die of thirst
in the wilderness
Beside a well
Of Living Water?
 Opposite...



It is this way…
When we quiet our thoughts
We remember
As we fold our hands
To see His palms
And the nail-scars there…

It is this way…
Though we deserve to starve
Even His crumbs are a miracle
And the feast on the Table
Never depletes
It is enough

It is this way
Even as we cry ‘why’?
Faith is the wonder
Of things heavenly
Succoring our disbelief
With power that
Can never be explained

It is this way…
As our hearts shape His praises
We remember
The fullness of Him
From our pitiful state
He saves us

It is this way…
His love for our hate
His Bread for our hunger
His Water for our thirst
Eternal life, through Him
In place of death

© Janet Martin

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I hope you enjoyed your pause on this porch and thank-you for your visit!