This Poem was Submitted By: G. Donald Cribbs On Date: 2006-08-23 14:11:41 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Light and Darkness

“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; upon them He has set the world.” —1 Samuel 2:8 When the prophets finally surfaced from their putrid soil, the ash heaps settled on the earth’s foundations like pews. Worm words stung my ears, harsh sermons like tongues of fire carried by an ancient and discarded muttering. Evangelized, I clambered up from darkness, depths  dimly alight in the wash of sun-spackled shadows, devoured cakes of dirt, dew; communion bread, wine. From the stone-walled sanctuary above, I wondered why glass must be sin-stained, so its beauty shimmers like blood spilt, laid out feast-like before us? Such musings supplant idle, weighted life thoughts, prophets purpose, meaning—as if significance so easily ascends like worms drowned out of darkness, into light.

Copyright © August 2006 G. Donald Cribbs


This Poem was Critiqued By: Turner Lee Williams On Date: 2006-08-30 11:51:22
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.95833
Donald--An insightful write speaking to the two "perfect" opposing forces. This work provide vivid imagery especially revealation of salvation and call- ing for protagonist; "Worm words stung my ears, harsh sermons like tongues of fire carried by an ancient and discarded muttering. Evangelized, I clambered up from darkness, depths dimly alight in the wash of sun-spackled shadows, devoured cakes of dirt, dew; communion bread, wine." The pious work is non-preachy, sage and uplifting. Thanks for the lesson. TLW


This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2006-08-24 13:37:53
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Don....What a pleasure to find a poem from your pen here. Your talent has been missed. This piece is well spoken and profound. I found myself reading and re-reading it just to digest the thoughts and experience the meaning of the words. I don't pretend to understand it all but your word choices are most outstanding. Worm words stung my ears, harsh sermons like tongues of fire carried by an ancient and discarded muttering......I love these lines...."worm words" is so innovative and clever! Evangelized, I clambered up from darkness, depths dimly alight in the wash of sun-spackled shadows,................'wash of sun-spackled shadows'...is fresh and exciting...why didn't I think of it first? why glass must be sin-stained, so its beauty shimmers like blood spilt, laid out feast-like before us?.............if I had to pick a favorite phrase I think this would be it...the notion of glass being sin stained is amazing...I doubt if I will ever look at a stained glass window without remembering this line. The ending is spectacular. Very well done....bravo......Marilyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: Mark Steven Scheffer On Date: 2006-08-24 12:52:46
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Don, Hope you brought your memories. But even then, I imagine they're rather dim. You have wandered back into a ghost town: you might have "clambered up" elsewhere. I've noted a recent phenomenon of worms, worms, worms on my driveway. Never really noticed them to such an extent before. I know somewhat of what you speak. Each "absence" here takes a piece from the statue. The old King is about to fall. But you are back, as prodigal as a Gospel story from youth. Something happened here. It was gradual, and we were all complicit. Yet it happened explosively. I speak of things beyond your ken, and your brief spell in Pompeii. But you are back. Verse sharp, and perplexed over the lack of game. No doubt. But you've been missed. If I appear to fill this space with babble . . . it was fun and full of game. When we babbled. Mark
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