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Critical Analysis #2
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Aurelian
Member
since 2007-03-20
Posts 109
TX, USA

0 posted 2007-04-02 10:02 AM




This long, hot road – the sunlight, the dusty trees
And the endless tapping of sandals on the northward way
This fire within will never let me sit – to Damascus
I must go – this zeal impels me on
Down the long road and over the mountains
Yellowed letters, their edges rough with travel-stains
Bump and rustle in the worn satchel
The priest’s hand shook as it wrote them
“The sect must be broken up” – unclean scoundrels
With bold mouths. Stiff-necked people indeed!
Grill them, whip them, grind them to mud -
Anything that will stop the cursed madness

The road winds ever on
Under the bright sides of Hermon
Through the cities of swine-herding gentiles
With their million filthy idols, and ahead
More doors to open and more crazies – I remember
Sitting at the right….No! It must stop
I am all the way persuaded it is wrong
And do not hold this sin… Stop!
I must not think it! Kill!
Kill them every one. Damascus, Samaria
Gaza, Azotus, Jerusalem! If they had
But one throat, I would cut it, I would
Prove it was all a lie from the start -
It was a lie, I see heaven opened……

The golden light, the blinding light
Falling from above the clouds
Knees dip to the road-rock.
A face that takes all doubt away.
And voice like singing thunder.
Like a dream that melts away
The truth unveiled dissolves
The long, thick night of error.
This is the love blind eyes can see
Much clearer than the sighted could.

© Copyright 2007 Joshua R. Tindell - All Rights Reserved
ChristianSpeaks
Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396
Iowa, USA
1 posted 2007-04-02 06:07 PM


Yeah this is good. Nice description. Historically accurate. I think the thing that is missing is that the conversion was much grander that than the evil that Saul/Paul committed. I wish that you would have shifted your focus there rather than the former. But nice piece.

Dane

Brad
Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705
Jejudo, South Korea
2 posted 2007-04-04 08:35 PM


I liked the first stanza, but the moment you need to pick up the pace, you seem to run out of steam.

Did you write this in one sitting?


Aurelian
Member
since 2007-03-20
Posts 109
TX, USA
3 posted 2007-04-04 11:04 PM


I did initially write this in one sitting, but I've been back to it many times for revisions. Would it be better if I eliminated the first four lines of the second stanza? I want the last stanza to slow down some, I had in mind the kind of "slow motion" camera view that stretches each second into two to accentuate a critical point. I wanted a change of pace from the faster clip of the first two stanzas - but maybe it made it sound clunky - tell me what you think.  
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