Tuesday, April 27, 2010

HCB Monster Poetics

“I’ve never been much of a monster woman myself, yet I see the possibilities….Okay, so for all of us who never wanted to look at the monsters under the bed, this week’s prompt is a real challenge. Write a poem about (or from the viewpoint of) some kind of monster.”  These words of challenge from L.L. Barkat and these from Marcus Goodyear… “We can pretend our monsters don’t exist, but that lie won’t help us prepare to fight them….The real monsters aren’t out there. They are inside.”

As a child I was afraid to look under the bed, for there could be monsters there.  As an adult I look within and find the truth.  I did not want to see the monster inside.  But with the help of Father God I have had to look there.  To face…

                              The Beast Within
Ascending from the dark
    Escapes from lips a savage bark
Creeping slowly from its bed
    Biting every little head
Piece by piece it makes a meal
    Nature refuses crime to feel
Fingers chill, snake up the back
    Wringing life from chosen track
Into the ruined monster Deliverer flows
    Releasing chains with mighty blows
Descending, drowning squealing it goes
    Tumbling hard upon the nose
View from ground reveals fate
    Of words that spewed full of hate
Covered in blood monster cries
    Gruesome death the creature dies
Surrounding water envelopes beast
    Famished new nature immediately feasts
As heart transplanted begins to beat
    Master Creator reveals His feat
Piece by piece He begins to assemble
    In image of Son it beings to resemble
Transformed, recreated by pierced hand
    Regenerate life amazingly grand

         (Nancy Kourmoulis 4/26/10)

 

“Regarding Zion, I can't keep my mouth shut, regarding Jerusalem, I can't hold my tongue, Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun and her salvation flames up like a torch. Foreign countries will see your righteousness, and world leaders your glory. You'll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God. You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You'll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beulah (Married), Because God delights in you…”  Isaiah 62:1-4 (The Message)

3 comments:

Dianna said...

A challenge to face my own beasts. Thank you for the thoughts to ponder...and thank you for stopping by to visit me yesterday.

L.L. Barkat said...

This was the part I could feel as I read it...

"snake up the back"

Shivers. :)

Claire said...

nancy i listened to an audio sermon today. it was about the relationship between grace and obedience.

your poem reflects this so vividly for me.