Welcome to the poetry scene. Let’s have some fun as we explore the Prose form of poetry.
The Prose form entails the writing of at least a three page life experience, or fiction, and then transposing it into a standard Free Form “stanzaic” poem, which brings brevity onto play. I wrote this poem in response to a poetry challenge.
I invite readers and fellow poets to do likewise. Write a short story of an event in your life and then use it to write a Prose poem. Send the story and the poem to me, I will publish the best two. Email: onescribe1@gmail.com
Monstrous Monastic Malapropism - By Vaughan Jones At the green young age of eight, in 1961, My family attended a Catholic Monastery. In those olden days, Bible scripture were read, and the mass was still said in Latin. With no catechism lesson on this Sunday I had to attend the mass with the adults. Blah-de-blah; yawn. Surprisingly, the sermon triggered an alarm bell in my mind, unsettling me, covering the evil practice of idol worship. The priest expounded on Old Testament scripts about worshiping Bahl and any idols, plus some New Testament scriptures reminding us of this very evil sin. I scanned the interior of the monastery, grimacing and in awe at what I saw. Above the main altar, a huge crucifix, At the head of the altar to my left were statues of Mary and Joseph, and a crucifix. To my right, another altar, this to the saints, with a statue of Peter and some archangels. Along the length of the left and right walls were the Stations of The Cross, depicting the crucifixion of Jesus, where one would give special devotion in prayer. After mass, outside the huge double doors, people gathered, thanking the priest for his hard-hitting, wonderful sermon. In all innocence, as a child, I asked the priest, “Aren't the statues and the crucifixes in the monastery also just idols?” My stepdad chastised me severely for asking of the holy father such an insolent and silly question. Slinking away and feeling grossly wronged, I heard the priest say to my folks, “This was actually a valid question, but be rest assured that, in the Catholic church, they are not idols but blessed by the Pope and placed there to remind us to pay homage to God, Jesus, Mary, and the saints”. That day birthed my skepticism of religion. - Amen -
Disclaimer: Please note that this writing does not reflect the opinion of SAFREA nor its Chronicle, but that of the author alone.
2 Responses
Thought-provoking, amusing and well-written poem Vaughan, on a rather thorny topic. You must have been a very questioning and perceptive child!
Thank you, Mel. Yes, forever trying to find the truths of life while being alert to anything that doesn’t make simple sense or has an illogical connection.