I didn’t used to like poetry, until I realized I had been reading only rhymed lines and pale caricatures. Real poetry is taken from life, unpinned and powerful.
The following “found poem” was taken from the Bible, King James Version.
I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth
to dwell in a salt land, not inhabited.
Woe is me! I cannot speak, for I am a child.
Come and see, come and see.
We have been with child, we have been in pain,
we have as it were brought forth wind.
Wells without water, wandering stars,
raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame.
I saw a strong angel proclaiming in a loud voice,
“Who is worthy?”
Woe is me! I am undone, for
I am a man of unclean lips, and
I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.
I wept much, for no man was found worthy.
All tables are full of vomit and filthiness.
There is no place clean.
Weep and howl, ye rich men.
Ye have sold yourselves for nought.
Arise, cry out in the night:
pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord:
lift up thine hands toward him for the life of thy young children,
that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
I saw an angel standing in the sun.
Come and see.
Come and see.
I saw a Lamb as it had been slain, and his
countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength, and
he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal.
Come and see.
Come and see.
And they sung a new song saying, “Thou art worthy.”
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God
himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
And let him that heareth say, “Come.”
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Wow……just….wow!!!! Thank you, luci, I really liked that!!!
It’s not for tradition’s sake that I like the KJV Bible, but because it is unparalleled in its raw and poignant beauty. Thank you for sharing this. It is beautiful.
Is there not a sense in which all great writing, whether poetry or prose, feels found? The best writing contains truths too large to be mastered by a single pen or brain. The writer and reader together stumble upon it and say “Ah-ha! Yes, exactly!”
That’s why I read and write: for the Ah-ha moment.
Yes. Yes. And Yes.
From mine heart I drag my heels ” A little more time My God i will find one”. His promise to me being pure. All of a 1000 men I’ve met. Only one for our world to be saved. “To find one good man is all he wants” another 1000 met in their muddy life’s. Asking of me to find only one good man for the Earths sake. I have failed my God I have failed. Non are good. What shall I do. I will try and be good. Another might be charged to find one good man. For the earths sake. Then pray he find me. A man who is lost. Trying to be good. As I love the wary. Created for me to dwell in peace. A 1000 may just say a fool and his feast. What’s this letter Lord I’ve to read to churches? One summer I saw a star because of Mark Barabass.