As
regular readers will know only too well, I like to think I have a strong sense
of spirituality but find it - along with a sense of raison d’être - in nature, not religion. (I find dogma more imprisoning than enlightening.) At the same time, I am
often accused of hypocrisy because I use religious metaphor in many of my
poems.
For me, the
more sensitive, imaginative, and spiritually enlightening passages in Holy
Books are metaphors for humanity, its weaknesses and strengths.
Raised a
Christian, I have never been able to take the Bible literally, but always found
much food for thought in it and poetry to enjoy. I admire the historical Jesus of Nazareth as a man ahead of his time who spoke good sense and encouraged the kind of open
mind and heart that many so-called Christians today would do well to follow.
We have
much to learn from founders of all the
world’s religions. So, yes, I often use
religious metaphor in my poetry, and don’t consider this makes me a hypocrite.
Readers of
my gay-interest blog often contact me on the subject of religion versus
sexuality. Among them, ‘Julie M’ who wrote to say that she too ‘turned to
nature for spiritual strength and reassurance after my religion failed me, a
lesbian, when I needed it most.' Others have written to say they have been
disowned by their family and friends for making life choices (not necessarily
to do with sexuality) considered ‘inappropriate’ in the context of various
socio-cultural-religious traditions. [As
the title of a poem of mine asks, whatever happened to love?]
This poem
is a villanelle.
ON CHERRY PICKING LIFE FORCE METAPHORS AND STRAWS
Passive
spectator to war,
the last
tree left standing, evergreen;
God, a first
and last metaphor
Tested
like Adam (all the more)
by a world’s
dark intentions unseen;
passive
spectator to war
Eve
called out for a whore
by busy minds
hastily swept ultra-clean;
God, a first
and last metaphor
Snake in
the grass and more…
making of
nature something obscene,
passive spectator to war
Behind the kitchen door,
preparing to feed off a television screen,
God, a first and last metaphor
Presuming
to keep the score,
let one
coin outshine a leaf’s dawn sheen;
passive
spectator to war...
God, a first
and last metaphor
Copyright R. N. Taber 2007; 2014
[Note: An
earlier version of this poem appears under the title 'God's Metaphor' in 1st eds. of Accomplices
To Illusion by R. N. Taber,
Assembly Books, 2007; 2nd (revised) e-edition in preparation.]
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