The Book Poem by Paul du Plessis

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus
Bringing history from the abyss
Great escapes, commands and rules
Reversing porcupine under the vine
Looks for the way
Directionless.

Job, Psalms, Proverbs
Echoing words in poetic blurbs
Rhyming ideas, couplets and quatrains
Scented rose and a squirrel’s pose
Celebrating beauty
Another disturbs.

Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Issuing warnings with prophetic fire
Incisive thinking in scathing attack
Prickly pear and grizzly bear
Calling for justice
To which to aspire.

Matthew, Mark, Luke
Telling the story in the up-to-date book
With gentler touch and tender words
While a thorny headband and wounded hand
Show how he achieved
The brand new look.

Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians
To first century churches under construction
Exploring the faith in concentrated text
Their wine mellowed red as they break crusts of bread
With a prayer
For comprehension

(September 2009)

Reflections on some of the books of the Bible, including Old Testament history, poetry and prophecy and the New Testament gospels and letters.