Thursday, November 25, 2010

Writing Poetry ... The Bible Poem

I like "normalcy" because of its imperfect/scarce rhyming with "lunacy", its antonym ... although different, you see, we may agree ...  Normality is more for formality .... I believe many a word has been added to the American language or English language just because of a writer's need for it to exist to accomplish his missive: "outsane". Outsane is the superset containing both the sanity set and the insanity set (those two subsets can coincide, be subsets within the other, or be mutually exclusive (mathematical set theory).
 
http://www.public.asu.edu/~aarios/formsofverse/furtherreading/page2.html is an interesting reference for the various kinds of rhyming ..... like when plaid was not an eye rhyme for bad and with uncertain pronunciation via various dialects and countries of origin.
 
I like writing poetry because it harnesses my thoughts and words to the minimum within my ability, captures and conveys a message with a few words in least lines needed, does not consume unjust time of the reader to digest. Poetry can convey what sometimes is too difficult and too lengthy a subject to write about in other forms of literature (defined as the art of written works). Someone actually condensed the Bible to a poem and I inserted it below if you would like to read and share it others...
 
I prefer poems that uplift the spirit, enlighten wisely, and are simply expressed rather than those elaborately, elegantly enriched too ornately or ones displaying unnecessary, high brow profuse profundity. Poems should not be written with the intent to impress the reader, to gauge his reading ability, but should be pearls of thought for its reader artistically, creatively, and inspirationally communicated. While some read to challenge their minds and thoughts and want to emulate the poet's refined royal abilities, perhaps even interacting with the author psychically via the channel medium of the writing, most read and write poetry as a leisure relaxation, a pleasant activity by which they enrich their soul and appreciation for the art of literature's creative writings.
 

 

The Bible Poem

by George Rigby
Written in Damascus, Syria in 1941

Introduction The Bible's Books are Sixty Six
The Spirit - their recorder;
Their stories - how they can transfix
So here they are - in order.


OLD Testament In GENESIS I will begin
With Adam, and with Eve
Who knew not any form of sin
'Til Satan did deceive.

Now EXODUS will tell us most
Of Moses - Man of God,
And how he led all Israel's host
When many miles they trod.

To LEVITICUS you have to turn
And read about the law;
The sacrifices which did burn
Unblemished - without flaw.

The next one tells of sin and shame
And how it all encumbers.
This book is good - here is its name
DEUTERONOMY - after NUMBERS.

Now JOSHUA was told to do
By vision - and by sound
To there and then remove his shoe
From off the Holy Ground.

JUDGES tells us - all forlorn
Of Samson and Delilah,
And how his lovely locks were shorn
His sight gone - nothing viler.

Then next, there comes a parting scene
The story - we all know as
The understanding love between
Naomi - RUTH - and Boaz.

First and second SAMUEL,
First and second KINGS :
They are a first class manual
And full of wondrous things.

First and second CHRONICLES now
Speak of one good Sire
Who gave his gold, and cedar bough
Hiram - King of Tyre.

In EZRA Six - and verse nineteen
A feast has been restored
The Israelites - it will be seen
Had God, their Lord, ignored.

Their story you will all recall
Concerning - NEHEMIAH
Who started on Jerusalem's wall
And built it - Higher and Higher.

In ESTHER there's a warning
And loudly - it is rung
For Haman was, one morning
On his own gallows - hung.

Faith is something hoped for
The evidence - not yet seen;
JOB had faith, with patience
And few - like him - there's been.

David wrote the book of PSALMS
And one day in his path
He slew a man, of brawny arms
Goliath - the giant of Gath.

King Solomon was very wise
The PROVERBS he did write.
To fame, and power, he did arise
Please read this book - tonight.

ECCLESIASTES, Five-verse one
Is very plainly put
So when you to God's house have gone
Remember - keep thy foot.

SONG OF SOLOMON, speaks of Love
So turn to it, and search
The story speaks of one above
Who is waiting for the Church.

The Prophets' Books, are next in turn
And one is called ISAIAH
The "Spirit" helps us to discern
And the next is - JEREMIAH.

Sorrow and love, are indications
Chastening - the theme
A wondrous book is LAMENTATIONS
Jehovah's ways are seen.

EZEKIEL was in Babylon
All Judah, was therein
To that strange land, they all had gone:
God's punishment, for their sin.

The children's story, I will pen
And grown-ups too, will gape
It tells of DANIEL, in the Den
And how he did escape.

Turn over now, and have no fear
A sad tale, you will find
The writer, is by name HOSEA
He pours to you, his mind.

Of insects, does this story speak
In JOEL chapter one
The land with palmerworms doth reek
But do keep reading on.

In AMOS and in OBADIAH
Is reading at its best
Your heart may throb, you will retire
Abundantly well blessed.

There's JONAH next, who would not preach
And so he did set sail.
He never thought, the shore he'd reach
Inside a great big whale.

Jerusalem, The Ancient City
Samaria, as well.
God does render them no pity
MICAH does this story tell.

And then comes NAHUM who does quote
Of God, who does not fail
The wicked city, which he smote
By sword by fire and gate.

I will rejoice, yes, in the Lord
And this verse, you will see.
The text itself, I will applaud
Read HABBAKUK, chapter three.

ZEPHANIAH - HAGGAI -
ZECHARIAH too
Not forgetting - MALACHI -
Will thrill you, through and through.


NEW Testament MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE and JOHN
All speak, with one accord
Of Jesus - who is God's dear Son
Our Saviour - Master - Lord.

ACTS and ROMANS will recall
Of one who was converted;
You will be told - of one named Saul
Whose journey was diverted.

CORINTHIANS One - CORINTHIANS Two
Give us Paul's advice.
He states Christ's love is ever new
But he also deals with vice.

The next four books* are to the Church
All written by one hand.
They warn the people, not to lurch
For Apostasy was in the land.

The THESSALONIANS now we reach
And here we have an inkling:
"Be Ready" as the books do teach
When Christ comes - in a twinkling.

The books of TIMOTHY which are two
Are followed on by TITUS
They point us to the paths anew
Where nothing will affright us.

"Onesimus" - who once did steal
When tempted by the Demon
He brought a letter, with the seal
Of Paul - to one PHILEMON.

HEBREWS is a wondrous tale
Of Prophets, old and true
"By Faith" their works, they did avail
Christ gives that Faith - to you.

A Guiding book comes to us now
And read - you really must
It is the Christian path - I vow
The author - JAMES the Just.

PETER first -- and PETER second
Tells us of Declensions
And our attention too, is beckoned
To matters, which he mentions.

First - Second and Third JOHN
And next to them comes JUDE
They tell of one - God's dear Son
Who gives our Spiritual Food.

Then as this story, comes to end
We read of Devastation
For God - His wrath, will surely send
You must read REVELATION.

* These four books are:
   GALATIANS, EPHESIANS,
   PHILLIPIANS & COLOSSIANS

   
  George was born in 1912 in Liverpool, where he lived his whole life. He was very well-known to everyone who worked in the Bibby offices in Liverpool. Known as the "Gentle Giant", he joined Bibby's in 1945 after return from active service and eventually became the company's commissaire, a job he enjoyed very much. He started this job in the King Edward Street branch and moved later to Richmond House.

George was married to Elsie in 1937, and they had three girls, Dorothy, Jean and Ruth. He enjoyed the company of seven grandchildren, born between 1966 and 1980. George died in 1982.

While serving in the Middle East in World War II, he wrote an amazing poem with a verse on each of the sixty-six books of the Bible while stationed in Damascus in 1941.

This poem has since been copied and distributed in paper form throughout the world. As George's eldest grandson, I am proud to be able to put it on the Internet for an even wider audience, and hope that you will take it, pass it on or forward this site's address to those who you think may benefit from it.

 

Thank you,

Andy Price

Last Updated : 24 Apr 2002

Feel free to email Andy Price (andy@andyscouse.com)

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