4/2/09

Wordsmith

April is National Poetry Month so I thought I would share one of my favorite poems today. But first, I would like to say why I think poetry is valuable. Dallas Willard admonishes Christians that they must learn to communicate passionately, effectively, and inspirationally the εὐαγγέλιον or "good news" (it's where evangelical comes from) if they are to truly impact their communities. He used the term 'wordsmith' to describe what we must become. I believe the most effective tool for honing our ability to craft language is to read and listen to talented writers and speakers. Poetry is the supreme art-form of using words, and it should be a practice of everyone who desires to compellingly communicate the gospel. That being said, here is one of my favorite poems:

A Poison Tree by William Blake

I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I water'd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole.
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see,
My foe outstretch'd beneath the tree.

We must be willing to forgive, even when it is not sought. For if we cling to an incident where we were slighted, it will fester into bitterness, which will turn into a grudge, leading to an obsession for revenge. Only the action of forgiving leads to a life of freedom.

Oh, a book of poetry you should read is Zombie Haiku by my friend Ryan Mecum. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am not a connoisseur of the culture surrounding the undead.

And I love this movie.