Your weekly slice of Poetry

Do angels speak and sing more beautifully than humans? We often use phrases that would indicate this: "she had the voice of an angel" or "if I spoke with the tongue of... angels" (1 Cor. 13). Poet's have often called on the "Muses" for poetic inspiration. And why not? Angels are in Heaven, above the dirt, decay, sin and brokenness of the world that we are swimming in. They do not suffer or struggle with themselves. They are not depressed or addicted, weak or alone. How could the poet-angel not write more beautifully than the dying man?

It is true that our sin does distort our words and art. But it is also true that God works through the brokenness of this world to create an Art more beautiful than what could otherwise be. Angels may be seen as above the corruption of Earth, but our God did what no angel could do, descending into our corruption and dying within it. In God's providence, he ordained that men and women, lowly and non-ideal as they are, would write beautiful things that will stand to God's praise for eternity.

The poems in today's Poetry Pie address topics related to these questions. Consider how each poet speaks of the relation between the generic "Heaven" and "Earth." And as always, enjoy these works as some of the poetry that God gave man the ability to write.

Israfel

Edgar Allan Poe (1809—1849)

One of the archangels of Islam, Israfel is nearest to God and records his decrees. His music is the sweetest, and so Poe writes a poem describing how his voice affects Creation. Being one of the highest angels of heaven, Poe give Israfel the right to "despis[e] / An unimpassioned song." Heaven is the place for such pure and glorious music, contrasted with the Earth where "flowers are merely - flowers."

Poe concludes by saying that if he and Israfel were swapped - if their places were switched - then the angel would likely not sing so well, while he himself would sing much better. Edgar Allan Poe had a difficult and weak life, one that not too many would wish to have. It is not wrong to wish that things were better, nor wrong to wonder what you would be able to do if your circumstances were different. But whatever God's purposes were for Poe, he used him in his travail for his glory.

To Mary Unwin &
My Mary

William Cowper (1731-1800)

There's perhaps no greater candidate for a broken and lowly poet as William Cowper. The author of "There is a fountain filled with blood" (and other hymns), this man suffered greatly from personal weakness, depression, and bouts of insanity through his life. In many ways, writing was a means that God gave him to stave off the mental instability that crouched at his door. His life is an example for the fact that beautiful works do not only spring from perfect or sublime situations, but also from extreme difficulty, sorrow, and pain.

I've included two poems here, as they both are on the subject of a Mary Unwin whom he lived with. This woman (and her husband who later died) housed Cowper and helped tend to him after one of his episodes of insanity. They never married, but Cowper grew exceedingly close to her, as is plain in these poems.

The sonnet "To Mary Unwin" uses similar language as Poe's "Israfel," expressing a desire for a heavenly eloquence by which to write his praise about Mary. "My Mary" expresses his love for her while grieving the fact that his trials have given her so much work and sorrow through her life.

Deception

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

I recently purchased a book of C.S. Lewis' poetry and found this poem within it. Though he is not typically known for poetry, it has been interesting to read his poems and learn his style. Just like his writing, his poems are clever, witty, and precise with his use of analogy and fantasy.

"Deception" describes our modern world as it descends into the ugliness of factories, the clamor of too many voices (social media anyone?), and the false religion of technology as a means of staying young forever. A bleak picture of Earth as compared to Heaven, wouldn't you say?

Yet, each stanza ends with two lines of parentheses. The first line of these parenthetical thoughts display some Biblical image of decay (Adam eating the apple, Israel descending into Egypt, etc.) The second line then shows how this was not only foreseen but foreordained by God for his purposes. Our world may be descending where it ought not to go, yet all things still exist within God's plans. God's perfect and heavenly plan involves a broken and decaying world.

Abel

Abram Newcomer

For my poem, I've included the one written shortly before our son Abel was born. We were eagerly waiting for him (as one does), and I remember thinking that I longed to hear his cry. It's perhaps a strange thing to wish to here a baby crying, but the thought of hearing the voice of our friend (who had only been silent thus far) was exciting.

This poem explains to the boy what he was entering by being born. It is not an ideal world: it is full of suffering and pain, but also of story and life. All good stories involve struggle and hardship, something my son has and will experience. This is part of God's plan. He was formed by the Ideal of all reality, yet brought into the grayness of our world. He is only a "breath" that will someday pass away. Yet, in its weakness, it will be a breath that only existed to bring honor and praise to the One who breathed it.

I hope you enjoyed these poems and thoughts. I will see you in two weeks for the next edition of Poetry Pie!