Your weekly slice of Poetry

Welcome to another week of Poetry Pie! Having recently published a new poem containing imagery surrounding Eden, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the Tree of Life, I've selected poems that are moderately related. I hope that these spark even more thoughts, ideas, and connections between Christ and Creation.

Sunday

George Herbert (1593-1633)

This is a fitting poem to read on a Sunday, a beautiful reminder of the significance of this day of the week. The gathering of Christians on Sunday is not arbitrary or mere convention; it is rooted in Christ, both his resurrection and his design from Creation. It is a weekly holiday ("holy day"), a chance to be reminded that Christ's work has invaded our lives.

The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, all except the first and last lines of each stanza, which are trimeter in length. The stanza design is interesting, being seven lines long (a septet) and rhymed ABABCAC. It wouldn't be surprising that Herbert chose seven lines to mirror our seven day week.

Holy Sonnet IX

John Donne (1572-1631)

It's been a while since I've shared a Holy Sonnet, but they were one of my first stops when finding poems related to the Garden of Eden. Though only briefly mentioned, this sonnet includes the Tree of Knowledge in a list of things that are not judged, despite being perilous or dangerous. Why are these things considered innocent while we are held accountable for our sin? Donne always knows how to clearly present concerns or objections to God while maintaining reverence, submission, and devotion.

Eve

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

This poem was a wonderful discovery, one to remind me of how much I used to love and read Christina Rossetti. This is a lament by Eve, a piercing and woeful cry by the first woman of Creation. It leaves off in the thick of the tragedy, and how often are we too quick to move to the resolution in Christ. Sit with the grief of this woman, our ancient mother; remember the seeming hopelessness of sin...

And then move to the resolution. I can think of no better frame of mind for reading the following publication, my latest poem.

Take and Eat

Abram Newcomer

This is the second Sal that I have ever written. It was completed much more quickly than my first one (around a month compared to a year), and I'm eager for it to lead to more. It has a more flowing theme and resolution, as compared to The Vision of the Beloved which reads as more of a list of Christ's attributes. I plan to work on Poet's Notes for this when I get the chance, but, for the present, I hope you enjoy studying its structure and chiastic parallels.

As a sneak peak, I'll hint at one of the parallels of the poem. While "Take and eat" (lines 1 and 14) is the obvious one, there is also a parallel between the temptation of Adam and Eve (lines 3-4) and Christ's temptation and victory in the garden of Gethsemane (lines 11-12).

Thank you for reading and for all the support that you bring to my writing. I pray that these words are well received and enjoyed, pointing to the true Word of God.