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Russell Galloway's avatar

Beautiful: "I say the psalms but the words are changed."

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Andy Patton's avatar

That line makes a bit more sense with context. This poem was originally written as part of a project to make creative rewordings of the psalms and pair them with a new poem. This poem was paired with Psalm 16 (https://darklingpsalter.substack.com/p/psalm-16poem-and-rendition?utm_source=%2Fsearch%2Fpsalm%252016&utm_medium=reader2). Hence, "I say the psalms but the words are changed." It has a double meaning... both referring to the project and how Paul would have had to revisit the psalms after Jesus' revelation to him.

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Meredith Davis's avatar

Oh this is powerful! Love this:

The pain was not the blow that shook me,

Nor the savage light, nor the violence,

But the knowledge, sudden and sure

That I was wrong.

What a blow it is to have the realization that we are wrong, that there is a brighter truth, that we can bend and not break.

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Mark Rico's avatar

Love the symmetry even in breaking:

"There was a whisper of wings

And I clattered to the ground."

"The rocks rattled around me

And lifted from the ground."

Powerfully written, a fully inhabited piece of poetry.

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j j b r i n s k i's avatar

Oh Andy, “I say the psalms but the words are changed.” I feel like I just met Paul…and now the flannelgraph has skin and bones, sweat and countenance.

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Katy Bowser Hutson's avatar

Man, Andy. I say the psalms but the words are changed. Phew. Also, flense is a new word to me. And a poignant one.

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Charlotte Gunther's avatar

Wow! "zeal for your house".

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Patricia Hunter's avatar

Breathtaking, actually. I hung on every word. Thank you.

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Richard Myerscough's avatar

Marvelous! 👏👏👏

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Rebecca J. Gomez's avatar

I love how this poem feels like a gut-punch and a miracle all at once, and the rhymes at the end of each section are a nice touch!

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Luke's avatar

“It is longer than I thought and strange.

I say the psalms but the words are changed.”

I’m so struck by unexpected and perfectly tight rhymes that tie together opposing tones and themes—breaks into my heart.

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Jack Urban's avatar

I love the creative spin on the wonderfully familiar story. With this poem, I get to feel, a little, what Paul(Saul) might have gone through. Thanks for this!

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Cindy Marette's avatar

Joltingly beautiful, thank you…

“"Hidden in the loss was another life”

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Sierra Westerholm's avatar

"Hidden in the loss was another life

And love itself is thunderous light"

These were my favorite lines - just a beautiful description of the blinding light of Christ in appearing to Saul.

This whole poem was beautiful and a fresh way of re-hearing the story. Awesome work!

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Caleb Galloway's avatar

Fantastically beautiful! Thank you, Andy.

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