The Cross

This reminds me of the the tale of Prometheus (as well as Christ as you've mentioned), the tone in it for some reason really connotates with Prometheus for me though, I think this may be the sombre and slightly regretful tone of the poem, whereas to me the Bible and seems very judgmental and self-rightous. You've avoided that and the cross in this poem has good connotations for me (Prometheus) rather than negative ones.

The symbol of the cross and crucifixion is very powerful, I don't see this symbolism used much in poetry and I think it's because people get intimidated by it. You've used it perfectly and sincerely, the power resonates and enforces the emotion of the poem without being clichéd or overpowering the piece itself.

I think the form is perfect and the poem works as a whole very well, but when I read it I still get this sense of massive potential for it to go further, but I know it can't be any longer because this poems works so well because it's concise. I think I read this and imagine more potential, yet it's perfectness as it is, from a Romantic stand point, that idea of limitless potential (without the fragment structure). I think this is a really powerful emotion/sense to have in a work of this time, it captures that sense of the divine and transcendence embodied by the symbolism of the cross and crucifixion.

This is a really well constructed poem and is one I could come back and read multiple times over the years and still get the same powerful effect from it.

Sorry for my lack of adjectives ( I've been thinking and writing in Japanese for uni and they don't have many adjectives, need to get my English vocabulary back!). I hope this critique helps somehow, although I don't see how you could change or alter this work without it losing it's sincerity.

This is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem.

PS. Terry Pratchett was in Sydney not too long ago, did you get to see him?

It would appear we're more alike than we thought. I am a christian who also believes that most churches are either social clubs or indoctrination centers. I take my religion straight and unfiltered by someone else's ideas of what is right and wrong. As to the poem itself, I think the last line could be written a bit better ...............stan

Well even though I am on vacation when I saw you had written of course I had to come take a look. The last line could be more of a slap in the face but then the entire poem kind of slaps you anyway. I find your take on it is kind of like mine . I don't have a suggestion for the ending because I believe you will know yourself what it is when it hits you.

to the question... But, first let me qualify: I am not an advocate, nor do I practice any particular religion. I have my own thoughts about living and what I think is right. That is neither here nor there. The answer to the question is; That the people who believe in Christianity, use the cross as a reminder of the love that Jesus had for the world. That he would give his life, in the most horrifiying way, to save their souls.
That is the answer to your question. I too would much prefer a gentler, more peaceful scene. ~ Gee

The cross, it is only a symbol and not meant to be anything else, but a cross can mean so much, a cross roads, where the two opposing lines meet creating a central common ground, a failed problem solving at school when they wrote a big red cross on our sums instead of an R(right). We choose a symbol for things and there are so many things this exact cross can stand for.

But worshipping a cross symbol, well that's a personal thing that each human decides for himself according to his beliefs; personally I have no beliefs that tally with any religions, but many do and from them glean solace from fear and dread, pain and suffering, and if that's what the symbol of a cross does then I'm all for it, suffering is the worst 'offence' against health and happiness, joyful life, and well being, each to his own manner of tackling it I say.

Its strength of meaning in our time has rescued people from killing themselves, when they would really prefer to live; those who wish only to die, I am not going to start a debate on that, but its their decision and theirs alone that is the right one for them.

The emotion the symbol of a cross arouses is not all blind devotion, it awakes the grand and great in our thoughts when we are dependent on it, and these thoughts are parallel with the intoxication of poetry, when we feel it at its strongest and this creates great art and great poetry...sadly, great discrimination and violent wars and terror, but that's only human, no?

Only Ann's view, Jess, with love to all those who suffer however they are afflicted.

I had done a lot of research on weather it was a cross or not,
Guess what, It was not a cross, because at the time in that area of the middle east there was not enough trees. they hung him with rope by the arms on a simple piece of lumber like they did all other criminals. they would not waste nails, they needed the metals for their war machine. The Romans were not going to waste lumber that they didn't have, or give this death any special attention, to them he was just another Jew.
The idea of the cross came almost 200 yrs later if I remember correctly.
I am in agreement with you. I do not pray to things created by man. I pray to things create by the living earth and universe. I'm not at all sure that there is a "God" per-say

For me this is one of your best writes, the structure is beautiful for this thought.
Excellent work my friend.

Eddie C.

excellent write with powerful commentary

i have always hated the idea of praying to a cross - a cucifix even more so
and yes i agree - 'the wide open spaces built by the hand of the lord,' as the song goes, is the place i worship.....

- not sure where the 'iron maiden' fits though.
love judy

Too tired to read through this all, Jess.... but a friend and I posited some years ago that we might be wearing little electric chairs around our necks under different times.

That sort of brings home the ridiculousness. However, as Barry says, it's a symbol of Transcendence, albeit a gruesome one. Thank God the Romans didn't burn people in oil. I wonder if and when we'll ever grow out of our fixations with someone *up there* to fix the problems we create.

~A

However, there is an *up there*, so to speak, it's the field Rumi wrote & spoke about:

"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I'll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase "each other" doesn't make any sense."

~A

Not so odd, Jess. I am compassionate without needing a blankie or a wet nurse. However,
I do say OMG often enough with Barry around. Shhh. Just don't tell him I said so. ;-)

We had a huge argument this morning. He can be so stubborn about his beliefs...unlike me.
ROFL.

Can you imagine a Christian who believes in the Bible and a recovering nondualist/gnostic atheist, living in the same house? Lots of fireworks.

~A