There is sorrow in learning
Pagan foot crowding spiritual birth
My tree a forbidden phallus
My Christmas a Solstice
The Son I worship brightly shining
On the day of the Sun
My bride an earth goddess
From Emaraude shore
My salvation from conquest
The Roman Legions trading
Gladius for Crucifix
Pilum for Axe
Keeping their matches
Forgetting the baby
Sent to a manger
To save a world
To cries in the heavens
"Peace on Earth
Goodwill to Men"
A contest entry
- ~ Secrets In The Snow ~ by Stuart Higginson.
650 points, ended February 13, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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“Sorrow in learning” … there can be, especially if we learn something that disappoints us, kills hopes, reveals something is not as we believed or wished it to be (or could be). In reverse, there is also learning in sorrow; from that which causes the sorrow, its catalyst, and too, from questioning later how/why we felt/endured/reacted and dealt with that sorrow. The actions that bring the sorrow to us … or even when our reactions might have led to the sorrow being generated. Ie a conundrum might’ve been presented to us in life, and our decision/choice/way of dealing with it might be the reason the sorrow came to be (ie due to a bad decision or a wrong turn).
“Pagan foot crowding spiritual birth” … in this line, are you simply denoting that the birth of a soul into a life-form (human etc) is not without destiny; that the Pagan foot will hold some influence over their life’s course … that they will take certain routes on their life’s path … their journey into days? Or perhaps that they are born to live in the Pagan way of life/with that religion being intrinsic to them?
“My Christmas a Solstice” … I wonder if this is a suggestion that Christmas is the time in which you pause … as the old year begins to move away from the soul, leaving us in the shadow of the year’s fall, as we stand in the growing light of the new, approaching year? Personally I find Christmas a time for reflecting on the year passing away, and for simultaneously planning and contemplating whatever the next might bring. It’s like the sheet of paper that stands between the text of an old chapter in a book, and the text of the new chapter.
The second stanza seems to suggest a time when Roman society was edging toward religion and possibly toward a deeper sense of civility … are you perhaps presenting a piece of history … of a land, wherein a war or battle was fought and Pagan/Celtic culture came to replace that of the Roman in domination?
” To cries in the heavens” … the “To” confused me in this line, as it felt it wanted a “From” in the stanza previous to it, to relate/refer matter back to, or to connect the stanzas with, in relevance/subject matter if not merely in words.
Final 2 stanzas:
The message and meaning of Christ at Christmas seems to suffer diminishment against the growing tides of commercialism and modernity, yet even the non-religious can give and receive goodwill, wish for peace etc., both messages are relevant to us, irrespective of whether Christianity is personally practised.
This is an interesting piece, which gives room to various religions and cultures. If only there were no so many barriers between them, if only the discussions and debates could be had without the animosity and closed-mindedness that often intrudes. You have provided an interesting entry to this contest. I have enjoyed reading this piece and giving thought to what might be contained within it, as well as enjoying the words as they are lain down.
Judging will be this weekend as I am posting the final two critiques today and tomorrow. Thanks again for this entry.
Best wishes
Stuart
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this was confusing to me. i couldn't tell if you were acknowledging the hypocrisy of christianity or the pagan symbolism in it, or if you were saying pagan symbolism is completely arbitrary and christmas still has profound meaning despite the pagan symbolism and despite the factual inaccuracies of the Bibles..it's interesting to me, and i would like to hear what you were trying to say
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Thank you for the read and interest. Your uncertainty speaks to my state of mind. Hypocrisy is a human condition; applicable to all belief systems, endeavors and occupations. We gravitate to beliefs that we are least able to see the contradictions. I read a few of your works. Raw. You show some Biblical literacy...
The birth/foot is reference to Jacob/esau and the persistent way our bad behaviors persist despite determined efforts to change. To be fair to the Bible, one must recognize what it is, a guide for how to have a relationship to God.It is incomplete as history; but gives tantilizing clues "It was during the life of Peleg that the land divided up into continents..." from Genisis after the flood. I find the information profound, universal, soul satisfying. It provides an outline of the human condition and history. It teaches that nature is an invitation to seek out the creator. It teaches, we are all descended from people who knew God. We pass our memories through the generations, forgetting bits, learning, sharing...
Similarities in symbols come from these things. The bible teaches God loves us. If you choose love, it means you love the person as they are; otherwise the decision is conditional. God doesn't make us something different in the moment, and only helps us change the things we are willing to surrender. I believe this dynamic includes societies, as well. The key issue, as I understand it, is to recognize the need in your heart for God, recognize his invitation, and surrender your will and purpose to him. It must be an act of free will. Life is lived in tension; there are forces for and against us. To see good, there must be evil. The bible teaches there is a theif, an adversary who tries to keep men from God, and torment them to sadden God. God's plan was a way to rescue mankind and bring personal and corporate peace. The problem is that ambitious and unscrupulous use what ever is at hand to gain and expand personal power. Many of the critisisms of Bible and Christianity are presentisms, projecting modern standards and understandings to a past age unfairly. The history we learn is biased, incomplete editorials mostly written by the victorious. The path has been a hard one; but the seeds of social justice and equality, of human value have been in the book for thousands of years.
I would like you to bring to my attention a few of your favorite biblical inaccuracies and see what I can find out about them.
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Hi
Thanks for this entry. I'm printing off critiques to mark by hand, and will be posting them over the next few days. Judging is next week.
Best wishes
Stuart
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Hi Deercatcher,
The contest holder left me a message to please send out to each person here entered. This is the message;
Gets, I'm having major trouble with my pc and internet, can read AP pages but can't submit messages or comments in the field. This will mess with my contest judging, so could you let people know there may be delays, but that I am writing the critiques by hand and will do everything via a friend's pc in the next week? Thanks, Stu -
They are crowding further and further. We have been so fortunate so far. We have had the rights of no other generations other than these. They were few and they were not appreciated. This time for two hundred years is unprecedented. The freedom to worship and align ourselves with His goals. We did not guard the gate and the animal has breeched our hold. Great write and very well timed. RC
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Keep your eyes on Christ and forget the rest sweet one. You write so well do not let things such as this cloud your beautiful mind.
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