3/3/12

Psalm:Speak




Introduction


Sometimes participants of Bible study groups, when reading the Book of Psalms, will attempt to write a psalm, often one based on the well-known Twenty-Third Psalm. A particularly enthusiastic student might undertake the composition of 150 psalms, the number of psalms in the Book of Psalms.

In this collection of 150 original psalms, I have presented content relevant to today’s world, while drawing inspiration from the biblical psalms. As I composed, I posted my psalms in progress in chronological order, along with my nature photography, to my blog, titled, PsalmSpeak.
http://psalmspeak.blogspot.com/
http://psalmspeak.wordpress.com/

The final manuscript, titled, A Crown of Psalms: 150 Poetic Meditations, is categorized into three main sections:
“A Peal of Psalms,” a children’s book (psalms 17 through 9, 17 being the first);
“Psalms on Our Lips,” a selection of psalms on spiritual themes;
“Psalms in Plain Sight,” a selection of psalms on religious themes from my personal Baha’i perspective.

To readers who may identify some inconsistency in capitalization of sacred names, I offer the explanation that my method involves a degree of poetic license, using Baha’i conventions as a rule, but observing the style of the King James version of the Bible at times for effect.

These psalms are simple expressions. I regard them to be a kind of folk art, possibly evolving as they are shared. In the case of the biblical psalms, we have lost their melodies; perhaps the psalms in this collection will be modified if music is added. It is my hope that they will be uplifting suggestions for the reader’s consideration.





3/2/12

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord of gladness in your grief:
~~the solstice may shift, but the sun is the same.

Praise the Lord of acceptance in your anger;
~~praise the Lord of confidence in your fear.

Praise the Lord of eternity in your earthly life:
~~the Lord of beginning of enlightenment is end without end.

2/28/12

Psalm 149

Merciful Lord, Your myriad mercies—
~~and I, like a forest at the timberline—my musings and metaphors.

Merciful Lord, Your multitude of mercies—my years of sin—
~~if I had words . . .