In a Christian Writer's Life: Turning Bible Verses into verse

In a Christian Writer's Life: Turning Bible Verses into verse: Some translations of the Bible make almost every verse  sound poetic, such as the King James Version , which can often be scanned into iambi...

Therapeutic poems

Poetry groups on social media sites seem to be flooded with poems about unhealthy relationships, deep disappointments, chronic nightmares, angst, anger, hatred, or terror. These intense emotional outlets can bring relief and healing to the poets, especially under the auspices of a counselor or in conjunction with other types of therapies.

 

From a reader’s point of view, however, the intimacy of these therapeutic poems, once reserved for diaries or whispered secrets known only to God or highly trusted friends, sometimes come across as raw, naked, uninspired, or retaliatory. Readers might find themselves caught up in chaos they didn’t know exist but then feel powerless or devastated by their inability to do anything to help. Sometimes a frustrated reader might even want to say, “Don’t tell me! Talk to your ____ (fill in the blank) person with whom you have a problem.”

 

Does that sound harsh? Maybe, but even the most empathetic reader has feelings too. And, the thing is, most poetry lovers would really, really like to see a least some evidence a poet has given a thought to readers or at least has a smidgen of interest in poetry forms, or has an inkling of insight, humor, or hope to offer that, Lord willing, could be therapeutic to us all.

 

A Poet Challenges AI to a Duel

As a poet and writer for my entire adult life (and lately, a student of arti), I’ve viewed Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a threat to human creativity (dare I say, human existence.)

Until today, I hadn’t sought help from artificial sources, but I was curious to see how AI would respond to one of my poems. So, for the test case, I picked an inspirational poem that’s received positive reader-responses.

 

Wait!

Wait for God

to respond.

He hears.

He turns toward His crying child.

He reaches down into your clay crib

and brings you up, high,

high,

into His bosom.

He sets you on His shoulder.

He jostles you on His knee.

And when you're comforted and quiet,

He holds you closely

and teaches you to speak,

to pray.

 

Here’s the same poem, rewritten with Artificial Intelligence (AI.)

 

Wait!

Hold in hope,

for God's reply.

He listens.

His heart turns to His tender child.

He leans down into your fragile soul

and lifts you up, soaring,

soaring,

into His warm embrace.

He carries you upon His back.

He gently sways you on His arm.

And when you're at peace and silent,

He whispers close,

teaching you to speak,

to pray.

 

As you reread both versions, ask yourself:

Is the AI version an improvement?

Does it sound poetic as you read it aloud?

Is a crying child the same as a tender child?

Which is easier to envision – a fragile soul or a clay crib?

Have you ever seen parents carry young children on their shoulders? Is that the same imagery or the same feeling a child might get when carried in a backpack?

If you jostle a young child on your knee does that equate to gently swaying a baby on your arm?

My point is that when AI took over, it instantaneously changed the imagery, lost the poetic rhythm, and produced a sugary version that failed to create anything fresh or new. Now I cannot speak for technical writings, data summaries, or prose in general, but it would seem that poets who take their work seriously have nothing to fear.

If we give our poems the time they deserve to reveal something new to us and our readers and/or if we find fresh ways to express our thoughts and feelings (neither of which AI possesses) poets, writers, musicians, artists, and human beings of all ages will, Lord willing, remain irreplaceable.

 

Mary Harwell Sayler

"Wait" (my version, not AI) was previously published in the Explorer, Letters to a Priest Anthology, and book A Gathering of Poems.

 

Brief impressions of great poets

 

For decades, I devoured poetry! Traditional poems, contemporary poems, free verse, haiku, or indiscernible forms didn’t matter. I was so hungry to write delectable poems, I gorged myself on those I admired.

When my vision declined, however, I had to reduce my poetry diet to very large print books, so my formerly over-stacked shelves of poetry have now dwindled to three. 

Since I no longer have books by all of the poets who came to mind, my recollections might not match your impressions. With mere memories of my favorites to go by, I’ll keep these briefs brief by confining my thoughts to the syllabic count of haiku:

 

Billy Collins Reads the Dictionary

which syncs with his high
cerebral forehead and his
cover of quick wit.

…

Mary Oliver Memorialized Earth

by looking closely
and finding beauty in un-
expected places.

…

Charles Wright Seeks Spirituality

though viewing afar,
declining to embrace it
with free abandon.

…

Jory Graham’s Exquisite Poems

use gorgeous language –
often indecipherable
to avid readers.

…

Carl Sandburg Spoke Plainly

of Chicago life
for us to experience
even in the fog.

…

Richard Wright Wrote Haiku

observing little
moments in everyday life.
We identify!

…

Wallace Stevens Titles

act as an entry
into his poems, giving us
a clue to meaning.

…

The Book of Psalms

shows faith in action.
In hard circumstances, praise
stands as sacrifice.

…

Have you written a poem about your favorite poet? If so, you’re welcome to post it in the comments section below.

 

Mary Harwell Sayler
a lover of God and poetry

New Poem for Christmas

 

Holiday Movie in Haiku Sequence

They commercialize
Christmas until the only
One not sold is Christ.

Some do mention Him
in passing, but let’s cast Him
in the Leading Role.

Jesus is God’s Son
born to bear our sins and bring
to Life our Spirits.

Celebrate Christ’s birth!
Give a standing ovation!
Lights! Camera! Action!

Write on a billboard:
“Jesus Christ lit up the stars.
This Child shall lead us.”

Mary Harwell Sayler

Poems for Children

 

Regardless of the age of your readers, poetry techniques generally apply. When you write or select poems to read to children, consider these additional considerations with some examples I've written to illustrate:

Children often like cheery poems such as this haiku.

Autumn air creates
wispy streamers of white clouds
like strings from a kite.

Children like poems that express their feelings such as fear.

When thunder rumbles,
I scramble under my bed
and cover my head.

Nature poems help children enjoy the natural world.

Uncut grass tickles
the tummy of a squirrel.
He leaps like a deer.

Children like poems reflecting their experiences such as a pillow fight or a flannel board!

Pillows fill the sky –
Waiting to be tossed around.
That’s how angels fight!

…

Someone tossed cotton
balls against a blue flannel
sky! See how they stick!

 

Children enjoy word games and puzzles.

Two months sound airy.
Three cool months end in embers.
Most months stop on “Y?”

…

“Three Clichés in Three Lines”

Night: On the window
frog Prince Elmer sticks like gum,
waiting for a kiss.

 

Playful poems appeal to kids and also help them learn.

Hey, Magellan!
What’ you smelling?
Did you sniff the sea?
You found the Pacific!
Oh, how terrific!
Now you’ve made history!

…

“Starting an Alphabet Poem in All Caps”

A = Side view of a roof or a swing set in the park.

B = Owl eyes staring sideways in a cartoon in the dark.

C = Pour that much into my cup and please add nothing more.

D = This whitener made my teeth so bright, I'm giggling on the floor.

 

That last poem came from my book The ABC’s of Poetry: A Dictionary for Children and for Fun,  which, according to my research, is the only poetry dictionary for kids out there. In this tech-oriented society, creative arts are needed more than ever!

Children are meant to be creative!

And it’s up to us to encourage that creativity. For example, you might order poetry books as Christmas gifts for classrooms, creative kids, or poets of all ages. They might also welcome The ABC's of Poetry: A Dictionary for Children and for Fun. To find out more, visit my previous blog post about the poetry dictionary, which includes its Introduction page and several examples from the book.

 

Mary Harwell Sayler

 

 

Poets picking poets

 

When I asked a group of poets about their favorite poets, I started by naming those who meant the most to me:

Mary Oliver, who keenly observed and wrote about the intricacies of nature (human and otherwise), got me back to writing poems after years away!

Wendell Berry, whom I had the privilege of meeting, inspired and challenged me with his poems about basics and community.

After struggling in high school to understand T.S. Eliot, I devoured his amazing comparisons and exquisite phrases, wrought, no doubt, by time and insightful observation.

Other favorites include the wry humor of Billy Collins, down-to-earth haiku of Richard Wright, powerful reflections and assessments of Langston Hughes, and, oh, too many poets to name, for many were my teachers-in-print.

Then, a group of poets shared their favorites, such as Emily Brontë, whose work I’d never read but wanted to after hearing the poet’s reason for choosing her: “The way she sees the world in such a unique and almost haunting way makes her writing stand out for me. I feel very inspired reading her poetry.”

Another poet didn’t give reasons for the choices, but provided specific titles: Wislawa Szymborska, “Four in the Morning,” Yusef Komunyakaa, “Ode to the Maggot,” and Elizabeth Bishop, “One Art.”

Yet another said, “Of course, the great Pablo Neruda. Soft heart for Galway Kinnell as well,” but most of the poets merely listed their favorites, each of whom is worth looking up online and reading a poem or two. To ease your research, just copy and paste each name of interest into your browser’s Search box.  

Allen Ginsberg

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Anna Akhmatova

Czeslaw Milosz

Denise Levertov

Dylan Thomas

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Emily Dickinson

Francis Thompson

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

John Keats

John Donne

John Milton

Khalil Gibran

Lord Byron

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Robert Browning

Robert Frost

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

William Blake

William Stafford

William Wordsworth

Walt Whitman

I’ve omitted some of the favorites because of space and also because I wasn’t familiar enough with their poems to recommend them here, but I hope you’ll add your favorite poet(s) in the Comments section below.

 

Posted by Mary Harwell Sayler, who would be ecstatic for you to buy numerous gift copies of A Gathering of Poems!