(Photo credit -Quotefancy)
This short series on “A Parable for Our Time” based on Psalm 73 of the Hebrew Scriptures will conclude in unorthodox fashion with a rather lengthy original poem. Although using poetry to convey complexity and perplexity may be a bit of a hurdle, I hope this will not put off the reader.
Given the maelstrom of complex issues and influences swirling around humanity and our role and place on Planet Earth, and the parallel perplexity many of us are experiencing in our souls about it all, perhaps poetry can be a more effective way in reflecting all this than the regular sort of narrative composition blog.
At any rate, should you choose to peruse this venture in poetic license, thank you for you indulgence and patience.
I leave readers to formulate their own interpretations. Each one will hopefully find soul-food somewhere along the way.
Shalom!
Strange time, this time
© V.J. Marquis, July 2022
Strange time, this time
we sojourn in
strange time, this time
of endless din
and silent noise
of ether sky
consumed with waves
particles fly
uncaptured ghosts
shooting through me
swirling ‘round me
photonic beams
in endless streams
screaming voices
I cannot hear
unless I use
the proper gear.
Strange times, these times
restless masses
seething classes
seen through glasses
darkened lenses
barely capture
fleeting senses
what might be seen
what might be heard
sublime, absurd
folly, wisdom
panic, boredom
everything from
wonders to slime
beauty to crime
chaotic brew
one may construe
just as you please
as lonely truth
goes to its knees.
Strange time, this time
rumors of war
lurk at the door
dire projections
dark shadows loom
rage breath of doom
heartless, soulless
glitzy nabobs
shun starving mobs
no qualms or guilt
can stick to them
rake it in now
choked with splendor
“let them eat cake”
we remember
a great queen said
then lost her head.
Strange time, this time
though not the first
there was Noah
of long ago
the story goes
that in his time
imaginations
of multitudes
teemed with evil
all the day long
to hell with good
just bring it on
power, pleasure
makes us all strong
just do as we like
no God to see
no God to hear
no God to care
or make us fear
robbers, killers
and all the rest
top of the heap
short-term bit-king
live by the sword
die by the sword
God may be slow
yet all will see
his dreadful wrath
bring them to dust.
Strange time, this time
hypocrisy reigns
mocking disdain
for any to claim
to yet sustain
moral virtues
old-time values
perhaps abstain
from urgent lusts
consider e’er
you put your trust
in brand-new fads
stranger theories
fresh-concocted
to ease the road
into unproved
notions of who
and what we are
why wait for proof
just go and do
and ridicule
the dinosaurs
who will not see
just shout them down.
Strange time, this time
the great divide
a chasm wide
from left to right
so far apart
with seething rage
a deadly stew
can it be true
conspiracy
that other side
no eyes to see
no ears to hear
no willingness
to listen or
to move aside
receive a word
let it be heard
that comes across
from those people
your truth, my truth
just what is truth
Pilate-Jesus
once exchanged
all truth, no truth
just yours or mine
with no God there
just who’s to say
all truths can change
from day to day.
Strange time, this time
no certainty
it has been said
except we all
will end up dead
“gotta serve somebody”
as we all know
deep in our gut
some rights and wrongs
some truths and lies
fake excuses
for ourselves
lay the blame game
the other guy
made me do it
but underneath
the still small voice
whispers “you know!”
you had a choice
persistent cuss
that little voice
leave me in peace
and if it won’t
I can kill it
I can still it
ignoring it
neglecting it
till I grow deaf
or it goes dead.
Strange time, this time
the deaf and blind
have taken charge
a rumor comes
and panic reigns
a storm streaks by
the ship is blown
now right now left
the course unknown.
Strange time, this time
the sages sitting
upon the heights
of their wisdom
can tell us all
we need to do
to claim our rights
to save ourselves
to practice what
has been approved
how next to move
to reach the goal
justice for all
a few freedoms
checked, withdrawn
more right for some
than other ones
trust us we know
we balance fair
flexible law
in swivel chair.
Strange times, these times
poor blessed ones
meek heirs of earth
pure-heart seekers
given small worth
grieving mourners
shoved to the side
collateral costs
of progress y’all
mercy is mocked
in victims’ case
villains pitied
while families weep
peacemakers called
God’s own blood kin
run to and fro
seeking that one
mucho peace-talk
running here, there
no reality
found anywhere
not in one heart
nor multitude
a rare jewel
so hard to find
sell all to get
no one knows how
it’s really found
hunger and thirst
for God abound
no one dares name
what’s really sought
no one dares kneel
dares breathe the Name.
Strange time, this time
beginning, end
the great trial
to weigh the soul
mene-tekel
moment-finger
Babylon-feast
orgy-garden
drunken stupor
steaming cauldron
drink it down dregs
consequences
consequences
always come home
all know deep down
all debts come due.
World.V.You 
You certainly got my attention with this, and I much appreciate your openness to trying new approaches. Poetry does put a different cast on what is being said, and for most people (such as myself) it takes more than one reading to let the effect sink in. I hope to see more of your poetic writings.
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I appreciate your observation. I have dabbled in poetry since adolescence. I find release in seeking a non-prose path to let impressions and different images that prose cannot capture find expression. I have some gifted poet friends in a local writers. I too find that poems require more than one reading to absorb. Read aloud they can yield more still.
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