Monday, June 23, 2008

Sonnet II

Sonnets again. You know I've never been big on sonnets but writing them gives me a sense of achievement and I'm learning to value the rhyme scheme a little more. In fact, I actually enjoy the sound of it now. I guess most all tastes are acquired :) Some of you may remember my first sonnet, written way back when...well, I have another one. I like to think that this one is better than the first one, but you decide. I'm an amateur and so I like every poem I write better than the one before it. :)

This poem came into being through a number of experiences. It touches a little on the "free choice" issue, which has confused me a lot in the past. God has given us the freedom to choose. Why can't we choose whatever we want? If there is only one acceptable choice, why doesn't He just make us choose that? Reading Desiring God (awesome book!!) really helped me to make more sense of that subject. In the poem, I wanted to express the idea that giving up our rights (including the "authority to choose") is The Choice. Submission. And John Piper would say that in return for it, we get JOY!!! "Joy inexpressible and full of glory." Who would not sacrifice everything they have for Joy?

I must admit the thing that moved me to actually write this poem (instead of just sitting around and thinking about it) was one of the last scenes in "The Empire Strikes Back" - the scene where Luke, completely battered and conquered, throws himself over the tower rather than give in to Darth Vader. That was the only part of Star Wars that made me cry. It was too beautiful.

It's reminiscent of Matthew 10:39- "He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it." Almost suicide. Dying to live - and essentially, dying for JOY! That's what Jesus has been asking from us for roughly 2000 years. Anya posted about this not too long ago: "Giving what we cannot keep to gain what we cannot lose."

Another thing is that I wanted to express a little bit of anger towards The Enemy. You know, the way Luke says, "I'll never join you!" That is why the majority of the poem is addressed to The Enemy and only in the last two lines do I switch over to address God.

As always, I welcome suggestions and recommendations. All the poetry I post here is subject to ruthless editing :)




SONNET II
I know of all the things that I will lose
But I'll not serve you even for their sakes
For I have yet the power to refuse
Along with other things you cannot take.
I treasure them for they are worth the spheres
Worth more than galaxies that I could lose
But I hold still another treasure here
The crystalline authority to choose
The power to know the agony of the heights
To see the torture just as it will be
And throw my life, my treasure and my rights,
Like falling flowers into the ebbing sea.
I die, oh, God, unless I understand
My one choice is to reach out for Your hand.
- B.J.J. aka StrongJoy

Seize The Day!
-StrongJoy

9 comments:

ROSA E OLIVIER said...

Love, indefinable love!

G. Casanova

Anonymous said...

I think this one is far better than your first one.

And that scene in Star Wars is incredible. That's actually the first of all the movies that I saw. I love how just when you think that Luke has nothing to do, nowhere to go but to join Darth Vader... he lets go.

And he's saved. He couldn't even do anything to save himself, but salvation comes.

We're actually using Desiring God for our family devotions. I love that book!

And on the "free choice" issue, I'd hightly recommend the book Chosen By God by R.C. Sproul. It really cleared that issue up for me and I have wished that I could just memorize the entire book!

Once again, lovely sonnet!

Anonymous said...

I shall make a nuisance of myself and comment at least twice, because I thought of some other things.

If you remember the song Suicide Note which I referenced in the post Giving What We Cannot Keep... well, I sent a link to your post onto the guy who wrote that song. I think he'll be very jealous that you wrote it.

Secondly, do you know Chris Tomlin's song We Fall Down?

We fall down
We lay our crowns
At the feet of Jesus

The greatness of
Mercy and love
At the feet of Jesus

And we cry holy, holy, holy
And we cry holy, holy, holy
And we cry holy, holy, holy
Is the Lamb.


Your lines "And throw my life, my treasure and my rights,
Like falling flowers into the ebbing sea" reminded me of throwing crowns at the feet of Jesus.

Brad Keating said...

Hmmm, well, I don't know. I really like Sonnet I too. I can't say which I think is better. I like the messages expressed in them both.

See ya tomorrow! :)

Love, Sam

StrongJoy said...

Thanks for stopping by, Rosa!

Anya, goodness, how could leaving comments on my blog be a nuisance? Leave as many as you want! :) Yes, I do know the song by Chris Tomlin (we used to love that song when we were younger) and I do remember about the Suicide Note. In fact, I was thinking about it when I wrote up that post. I do appreciate your interest and your linking to me:) I have read one of Sproul's books but I haven't read that one...I'll have to check into it.

Seize The Day!
-StrongJoy

Anonymous said...

I'm miss you and I feel like I shouldn't be able to say that because I haven't even commented on this post from June. :( I'm sorry for being such a bad friend.

Everytime I see your redhead-head and your bright smile, I wish I could just hug ya!

Love
MJ

nmetzler said...

I think the Sonnet is excellent. I've never attempted to write one but perhaps someday...

Everly Pleasant said...

StrongJoy,
I visited your blog when I found your sister's and then I visited it again yesterday when you commented on mine but I knew that it was too late for me to develop an opinion of any sort (my mind shuts down at about eleven.) Today I revisited and I wanted to offer you a series of compliments:
First of all, you're very pretty, especially your lovely locks.
Secondly, your blog is very nice and put together, specifically this post. It was a nice post even without the sonnet, but I think that the sonnet is fantastic! I think that you and your sister are both very talented, I cannot wait to read more of y'all's stuff. I've been thinking about that exact thing: The Choice. I've actually been discussing Calvinism with family and friends lately. (By the way, I'm not a Calvinist!) Also, I gather you're a Chesterton fan. Well, I just got my first book by him and am in the process of reading it right now. I began yesterday and really enjoy it. It's "The Napolean of Notting Hill." Anyway, thanks for reading this lenghty missive! Keep up the good work,
Everly Pleasant

Unknown said...

*cough*

Now that I'm back, I think you have no excuse for not posting.

*grins*

And the "Barak Obama" ad started with, "I think the war in Iraq is rubbish..."

Too many late night political conversations among the boys of my Dad's cabin.