This Poem was Submitted By: Paul R Lindenmeyer On Date: 2005-04-20 19:59:59 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Promised Sight

     Unmerited graces acknowledged        ground to spiritual dust          hoping with visioned faith               for spittle              and redemptive mandate to                "Go wash in the pool of Siloam."  Jn 9,7.        

Copyright © April 2005 Paul R Lindenmeyer


This Poem was Critiqued By: Elaine Marie Phalen On Date: 2005-05-07 10:34:42
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi, Paul, Good reflection on the state of the soul. The format helps; it's like falling water or the descent of redemption. It leads us through the awakening process. Unmerited graces acknowledged Well, we do have to be thankful, even though we don't deserve what we're given. ground to spiritual dust There's no subject so one assumes it is the reader and the speaker ... all of us, actually. It's not easy to bear up under the world's abrasive burdens. "Spritual dust" is an interesting twist because usually, we think of the body as turning to dust while the spirit is imperishable. "Ground" offers some potential for double meaning, with the idea of being crushed, and also the "ground" as earth or clay, composed of a LOT of dust. hoping with visioned faith for spittle Hmmmm, "spittle" is a surprise. But then again, it will offer new sight for us. If Jesus can make the blind see, what can He do for us? The interesting aspect of this is that the man himself had to wash; he was not given his vision until he did so. If we leave half the miracle incomplete because we don't follow through, then we won't get very far. It's a two-way road. and redemptive mandate to "Go wash in the pool of Siloam." Jn 9,7. "Mandate" implies this responsibility, on our parts. We definitely have to acknowledge and use the gift of grace (and every gift, really; if we waste what we have, we'll lose a lot more). This is a clearly-stated poem about hope. Sometimes it is hard - in this turbulent time - to hold fast to any sort of promise, but those who can do so are rewarded, as the speaker is confident will be his own case. Brenda


This Poem was Critiqued By: Audrey R Donegan On Date: 2005-04-30 18:56:21
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.15789
Love the imagery: 'ground to spiritual dust' and 'hoping with visioned faith' Nice work, sorry I could not be of more help. Beautifully written, concise and powerful. Audrey
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2005-04-26 06:53:31
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.25806
Good morning Paul......enjoy reading this over and over again......like the way it is presented,d the word flow, the feelings along with the images projected from the word flow which brings us to our faith, trust and love of God............how sad for those that need proof of His being with us........for He is always with us, always by our side, even when we turn and walk away......He is there. Okay, enough from me.....Thanks for posting, sharing, take care and God Bless, Claire
This Poem was Critiqued By: Helen C DOWNEY On Date: 2005-04-23 21:52:38
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.54167
Hello Paul, Your piece sounds as if it came from the bible. With strong words such as unmerited and redemptive, is sounds as if no matter how much we sin, if we have hope and faith in the Lord we may be able to save our souls by cleansing our selves in the pool of Siloam. THis was a very soothing and comforting poem to my ears. Thanks for sharing.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne M Uppendahl On Date: 2005-04-21 11:11:54
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.65000
Dear Paul: It's always refreshing to have one of your poems before me! This poem of faith is inspiring, and gave me food for a morning's meditation on the "pool of Siloam." Then, in my subsequent readings I learned these things: The Pool of Siloam was the single permanent water source for Jerusalem in the first century AD, fed by Gihon Spring, diverted through Hezekiah's Tunnel. Jesus told the blind man to go wash at the Pool of Siloam, and after doing so, the blind man received his sight. The Hebrew word 'Siloam' means 'sent' -- Jesus as Messiah was 'sent' from heaven. Poetically, this poem is brief, but full with bright hope. I especially enjoyed the alliterations in "spiritual/spittle" as well as the phrase "redemptive/mandate". I don't see how anything could be more descriptive of what is needed at the present time of 'blindness' in the world we see around us and the faith that is needed to receive grace. Bravo! Best always, Joanne
This Poem was Critiqued By: charles r pitts On Date: 2005-04-21 05:04:46
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.87500
i may be wrong but i sense some bitterness here. like maybe personal faith has been tested. or could be a contemptuous sneer to the devout religious masses. i have no idea what the pool of siloam is. sounds biblical (hope i dont sound too heathen) kinda like a sodom and gomorrah pool or something. anyway, it makes a nice sound when i read it, and even though i dont know what it means, i still like it. like how u gave each line a religious slant : graces, spiritual, faith, spittle (where else but the bible?), redemptive(redemption), and the whole last line reads like straight from scritpure. very good. charlie
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