Bible: 5 Poetic Books

Lesson 1: Backgrounder

Inspiration and activities

Looking at the wide variety of material we'll cover in this course, it's evident that each section has its own focus:

JOB: Suffering. Dealing with the stress in our lives.

PSALMS: Praise and powerful feelings.

PROVERBS: Wisdom.

ECCLESIASTES: The meaning of life.

SONG OF SONGS: Love. Commitment. Relationships.

For our first creative writing exercise, let's take each group and freewrite ideas we have from our own lives about it. Take whatever amount of time you find just a little bit challenging--for some that may be two minutes; for others, that may be ten. Keep the pen moving for that amount of time, and see what you come up with for each heading. For example, for JOB, I might begin:

"I think, first, of the suffering in the world. Although we haven't had a world war since I've been born, we have had wars throughout my time on earth so far. The recent war in Iraq has produced shocking tragedy after tragedy, and now that the troops have pulled out, the stories of the ugliness of war continue to filter out to us. The atrocities of war, and what people do in desperate situations disturbs me--I need to write about that.

I also think of personal tragedy--the tears we shed when loved ones pass away. As Christians, we must strive to be faithful, and to believe that this "passing on" is part of the big plan. Therefore, we should not be consumed by grief or tears, but instead realize that God has a plan..."

and so on. Now work these ideas into your first free verse poem. There are no guidelines. Just write free verse (no rhyme, no rules, no regular line length or pattern), and just concentrate on creating vivid images.

WARNING! The following poem is quite graphic. If war disturbs you, click onto the next lesson, and do not read the poem below. Sometimes, when we get our feelings down on paper, the result can be quite startling...

SHAMEFUL AND SHAMELESS

The air shudders

Them into bunkers-

Staccato clatter

Of rotor blades above-

Stray bullets

Looking for a home.

Red rings burn

Below, shards

Of shrapnel,

Flaming rubber,

Charred bodies,

A jeep's skeleton

Scattered-

Fresh fossils

Of some prehistoric

Beast.

Two lives

Lie somewhere inside,

Skin stripped

From inner thighs,

The pink raw flesh

Of bodies

Bathed in blood.

Others outside

Shot through the knees,

Limbs twisted

At impossible angles-

Ash piles,

Body bags.

These are the days of rage.

Sometimes, for poetry, you just need to "get it out of you". This poem was created due to feelings I had about reading about a variety of wars that have taken place in my lifetime, including the latest atrocities in the Middle East. The stories involving suicide bombings and humiliating prisoners of war disturbed me the most, so I prayed about it, and put pen to paper. Maybe the images in my poem can serve as a reminder to others that there is no glory in human warfare. Destroying lives will always have a deep effect on those who actually have to do it--whatever the reason.

Now write your own poem.

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