This Poem was Submitted By: Paul R Lindenmeyer On Date: 2005-02-26 23:07:26 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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-- -- --what they are doing." Lk.23:34

And the legacy of forgiveness      visits creation again.           Cascading,            Crescendos of             Compassion's unmeasured mercy.                {White hot                   soul searing                       Divine logic}               Given freely                    from Crucified lips.                   

Copyright © February 2005 Paul R Lindenmeyer

Additional Notes:
For a retreat on forgiveness, requested by Rosanna Gleason,OP. My 2nd grade teacher and great friend.


This Poem was Critiqued By: Mark Steven Scheffer On Date: 2005-03-03 11:01:25
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Paul, While I may be all over the place in my spiritual journey, I always have a love and profound admiration for Christ. The Son of God, to us . . . the greatest of all men - should be to all. Nice to see poetry in His name. Mark


This Poem was Critiqued By: Elaine Marie Phalen On Date: 2005-03-02 15:06:32
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Paul, Luke's wisdom has always resonated with me. Have you ever read "Dear and Glorious Physician" by Taylor Caldwell? Wonderful book! But I digress. And the legacy of forgiveness visits creation again. Hmmm, "again" is significant. Forgiveness isn't a one-time event, offered only at the time of Christ's sacrifice. Sometimes, people feel distanced from it, I think. Their faith becomes less of a living entity than a historical curiosity. But a "legacy" implies continuation. It spans generations. Yet we spurn it, casting lots among ourselves for what we perceive to be "truth". The trappings of the faith, in other words ... buildings, ceremonies, regalia. We're no better than the soldiers at the foot of the cross with their dice and cynicism. Christianity faces such troubled times! I'm not so sure that any religion has the power, today, to move and touch the depths of many human souls. We're too jaded to notice or care. Your poem reminds us that even if we forget, the eternal grace remains to be rediscovered. Cascading, Crescendos of Compassion's unmeasured mercy. The poem's shape resembles the outpouring of love from the top of the cross itself. The words support this interpretation, and the hard-c alliteration works nicely to link them. "Unmeasured" means "without qualification" - mercy that has no stipulations attached. Even the gamblers fighting over the robe will get mercy if they ask for it. {White hot soul searing Divine logic} Yet we have to be prepared for an inner burst of fire. It isn't comfortable to realize our deficiencies because then will come regret, guilt and absolute sorrow at what we've done. Still, we keep doing it. Your title says as much. We're sorry and we want to be forgiven but then we mess up all over again. The parentheses seem a bit unnecessary, to me. However, they may be used to suggest the framing of the words themselves - the shape of lips, open and generous. The voice of Jesus is also a channel for the Father's own blessing. Given freely from Crucified lips. "Freely" is the most unbelieveable part of it ... that we who continually fall will be repeatedly salvaged and raised to our feet. We keep repeating the scenario. This is a worthy poem, appropriately relevant as we move toward Easter and need to be reminded of its message. Thanks for posting it. Brenda PS Here is a link to the book I mentioned, and others of her Biblical and historical novels as well. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385052154/102-
29152-9678547
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2005-03-01 09:32:20
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.71429
Thank you poet for posting this, at this time of the year especially...........forgiveness comes from the heart and love and we know there is no greater love then He Who Is.........good structure, word flow, emotions, and in this reader's mind vision of the passion of my Lord.....God Bless, Claire Given freely from crucified lips.........can you not see the parched lips, hear the words escaping from His soul as He asks His Father to forgive them for they know not what they do........
This Poem was Critiqued By: Sandee L McMullan On Date: 2005-02-28 21:42:17
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.87879
Title: – – – what they are doing.” Lk.23:34 Title is unique however, it makes its own mark; part of quote loses its emphases. imo This piece is not one easy to critique in its common relation to scripture. In all fairness, I begin to feel this is a translation alternative. I am not sure, though. The opening speaks volumes using the word “legacy”. Forgiveness is powerful to lead the reader with also. I take with the misplaced capitals on Crescendos and Compassion is to mean something particular about the Lk. but I have no idea about that, so it proves a tad distracting for mean as I am left in the vague spot about it. The alliteration works. The movement of cascading adds a flow and image of water or waves, cresting which applies to the senses. This building to emergence of mercy and the deep desire of yet another alliteration “soul searing” pulling the reader towards the peak of meaning. These { marks I suggest a regular parenthesis would work also. The ending does give the reader a consequence that hints at parable-like meaning. “crucified lips” matches again the alliteration of “freely from” to wonder at moral values. I think “crucified” works here. However, the capital does distract its placement however, the narrator choice. I esp like: “divine logic given freely” and “the legacy”. . . . regards PS: Sorry I save reading the footnotes until after I critique the poem; this done in all fairness to give a first impression to the poem for it to have its own merit. Aha, I see a tribute to a friend. It’s proves itself a devoted intention to please, in the way requested -- forgiveness.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Lennard J. McIntosh On Date: 2005-02-27 19:39:28
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Paul: Re: “-- -- --what they are doing." Lk.23:34” Indeed, “what are they doing?” Putting the Son of God, the promised Messiah, to death, rejecting their savior, that’s what they’re doing. The way you’ve captured Divine mercy as, “Cascading, crescendos of compassion, unmeasured,” is luminous. It virtually shines a light upon a forgiveness beyond that practiced by mere flesh. It is a consideration found only on the level of Almighty God, and his son, Christ Jesus. This is weighty material, covered nicely in a few lines that trumpet a message still pondered in wonderment some two thousand years later. It is vivid treatment of a major subject facing mankind. Congratulations! Len
This Poem was Critiqued By: arnie s WACHMAN On Date: 2005-02-27 17:23:59
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.70000
I am not a reader of your bible but I fully understand what this piece is about. I do not wish to debate its efficacy. However, this piece is well laid out and draws the reader to its end point. Foregiveness should be an on going affair. Thanks for letting me read this piece.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Turner Lee Williams On Date: 2005-02-27 10:25:45
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.81481
Paul–The title intrigued me, and of course, I retired to the bible for ‘the rest of the story’. And, a sober one it is; “And the legacy of forgiveness visits creation again: Cascading, Crescendos of Compassion's unmeasured mercy; {White hot soul searing Divine logic} Given freely from Crucified lips.” Your terse alliterated piece (especially the title) poignantly depict response made during the “Passion of Christ:” This unparalleled incident is what gave/gives humanity its longevity and unprecedented free will. Your retreat assignment/request is highly laudable, Ms. Gleason should be proud/honored. Thanks for sharing such a sagacious and concise effort. TLW
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