god is
what I don't know
high Gothic arches pierce the sky
to commemorate a body
washed ashore on the bank of the Rhine
that inspired a wave of pogroms in 1287
a body, that became a saint
a body, that became a pilgrimage
a body, that became an apology in 1996
for
"...the curse that we wrongly
put on the name of the Jew...
because we didn't know what
we were doing." *
so, you can know god
but not know what you are doing
for fifteen hundred years
* John XXIII: Penitential Prayer "We Recognize..." Spoken June 3, 1963 at Vatican II
Have mercy on me, O God, in Your Goodness; in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense Psalm 51:3
There are severe penitential realms that was sung or spoken can give us much spiritual Help to express our penance. These seven unique psalms are highly recommended to pray during Lent. The fourth and most famous called “The Miserere”, was written by King David when we cried out to and begging for forgiveness after he had committed murder and adultery. Whatever our sins maybe, we can discover in these ancient expressions of sorrow divine forgiveness and healing consolation. Our sins maybe few or many. Yet, like King David, we can offer our sincere prayer to our God of goodness, whose great compassion wipe out any offense.
This Lent, the pleading prayer “Lord, have mercy” is prelude to Eucharistic liturgy and can lead us to conversion and a better life.
A lecherous neophyte he preyed
upon their folded hands and closed eyes
bathed in their dolorous mumblings
sated himself on their penitential inhibition
Left them to flounder hopelessly - adrift
drowning in his vitriolic bombast
a hard burning scent of incense
left to smolder in their souls
for Providence had delivered them - to him
©6/16/2019
Eight word free verse challenge Poetry Contest
John Hamilton sponsor
Ha-ha spirit vibe penitential living type
Spread her smile an every heart whistle
She I care for before all nor see or call
Ay, I love her, her all nature need cuddle
Speech esse, for i know not what leave
Ha-ha spirit chuckle for light so tender
For life I feel; alive made me, and she
21/04/2017
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.