For the 2025 November PAD Chapbook Challenge,
poets write a poem a day in the month of November.
Day 20 is to write an explanation poem.
To those who sometimes wonder, or ask, WHY?!!
Why poems?!!
poetry is far more than ink arrangement of verse-rhyme
(though some perceive its purpose as sheer waste of precious time)
because some so-called poets desecrate ballads with blight
through unholy vulgarity and disregard for right
poetry is love's passion poured upon a page; its quest
to rekindle a heart of awe within the human breast
to waken us to worship God with more humility
to draw wonder from unplumbed wells of Divine Deity
to grasp, from sod and sky and sea, sacred glimpses, though dim
Of He whose workmanship is but the outer fringe of Him
and then to bow before the parchment altar with amen
touching the hem of God's garment through whispers of a pen
poetry is far more than vaunt to vex the hungry eye
it is the aftermath of prayer, the dredged deeps of a sigh
the heart that skipped a beat as it beheld the holy stage
where ink survives the author of words committed to page
poetry is the pleasure of God rushing through thought's veins
a holy happiness that the Ultimate Bard sustains
through nature's endless evidence of He who woos the soul
and keens ears to an ocean where uncharted poems toll/roll
poetry is far more than lyrical extravagance
it is a brush that paints a scene, a soulful song and dance
it is a kind endeavor to address lament and laud
and benefit the reader with witness that points to God
poetry is the language of lovers of humankind
longing's collective sympathies, the music of the mind
so when you ask 'why poems? all that I can think to say
is, 'to ignore the ocean's roar would be to cease to pray'
or, when you ask 'why poems' the simplest truth I can give
Is, 'to ignore the ocean's roar would be to cease to live'
Janet Martin
“When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”
Eric Liddell (1902–1945)
When I write poetry I feel God's pleasure
Janet Martin (1966-....)
