Sunday 28 April 2013

The power of the book #NaPoWriMoDayTwentyEight

With the good book in hand
They cover the land
With laws and judgements galore

With apocryphal zeal
They say what they feel
About anything that offends their law

Intending to do good
They say that we should
Abide by the words to the letter

But in preaching their code
The dish out a load
To cruel for most to measure

Our scripture is not
A gun slingers shot
To aim wherever we feel

It's reassurance for all
No matter the fall
Forgiveness it's central deal

Xxxxx

This poem is inspired by the infamous quote from "To kill a mockingbird"

“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)... There are just some kind of men who - who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.”
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

7 comments:

Kerry O'Connor said...

What an excellent choice of quote, Emma. You have exposed the type of hypocrisy it relates to so very well.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Great quote and a well expressed poem in response.

Kay L. Davies said...

Fabulous, Emma. I love that you chose this quotation, even more delighted that you attribute it to Harper Lee herself, rather than to Atticus Finch, as I did.
K

Janine Bollée said...

Your lines and choice of quote make me realize what an amazing book it is,[I only ever saw the film]and encourage me to have a read of it.

Susie Clevenger said...

Emma, I love the quote and your response.

Anonymous said...

Emma, you nailed this one. Lex was preaching on this very idea today. People use Bibles like AK-47s, mowing down verbally anyone with a different view. In the UCC, we say, ask the question, wait for the answer.

One of my fave quotes from "Mockingbird," because Harper Lee had an excellent view of some churches... I was away all weekend, so there are all three prompts at the link below, if you want to see them! Amy

http://sharplittlepencil.com/2013/04/29/three-making-up-for-lost-time/

Anonymous said...

Brilliant poem on a serious matter x