The semi-sabbatical I took in April is over. I was loath to see it end, but it was the time of rest and prayer I needed. As a result, I decided to reduce my schedule going forward so I can continue to give more space to God and my family.
Years ago, I wrote a poem called “Choices”, which was in my first book of poetry, The Wind and the Shadows. It was a rather spontaneous poem; as I wrote it I found the last word of each line rhyming with the first word of the next line. This rhyme scheme gave it an almost galloping rhythm that I’ve always liked:
Choices
LEGS CONTRACTING FETALLY
FATALLY BLINKS THE MIND AT LIGHTNING
FRIGHTENING FLASH OF FATE DENIED
RELIED UPON BLUE SKY BUT NOW IT’S RUMBLING, HUMBLING,
CRUMBLING UNDER CHOICES LIFE RESCINDS.
After reading “Choices” one day, I decided I’d write another poem with a similar rhyme scheme. This time, instead of the last word of each line rhyming with the first word of the next line, I rhymed the last word of each stanza with the first word of the following stanza. This hides the rhyme a little more and makes for a less galloping rhythm, but the rhyme scheme still helps the poem flow along.
The result was “Dyed in Faith”, a poem I’ll include in my upcoming book The Anonymity of Waiting.
Dyed in Faith
These all died in faith
Fate is a weatherman who’s right
as often as any of us
Thus saith the Lord
(who keeps the secret of weather)
whether reign or shyness comes
and to whom
Tombs and wombs, are dark places
where God says, “Let there be life”
Sight is useless there
Where believing is conceiving
A Wandering Minstrel 