A New Song: Poems of Life and Faith

By B. J. Carter

The years have been long, but have passed quickly, since I set out to follow my vocation. While I cannot say I have enjoyed every minute, I have basked in the light of learning and adventure, the "Aha!" of the days of my life. The greatest thrill for me has been the visible ideation on the faces of both children and adults as they have caught the knowledge and passionate awe of the moment. These poems are inspired by those "moments," I hope you will enjoy them as you read. At least occasionally, read them aloud, for they are to be savored, not just alone, but with others. Have fun with my work. I have.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 6, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456734107

B. J. Carter

B. J. Carter is a native of Northeast Alabama. He graduated from Oxford High School in 1955, received his B. A. degree from Birmingham-Southern College and his M. Div. from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He continued in graduate studies at Emory and later did continuing education at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities in England. Rev. Carter has been a United Methodist pastor for over 50 years. He and his wife, Marie, have 3 daughters, 4 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. Rev. Carter recently toured and sang with an international choir at both Central Hall and Saint Paul's Cathedral in London. Currently, he is writing, teaching, and developing his next book.

Book preview

Beginnings

A New Song

Long before I wore

more than the skin of animals,

I sang.

Just an Ah

and an Oh

a tone

accompanied by the song of birds,

inspired by the howling chant of beasts,

I sang,

and the canyon cathedrals echoed back my song.

The pounding waves lifted

their rhythmic beat to my song.

Soon,

I knew the words.

The AH was ALLELUIA,

the OH, HOSANNA.

The howling chant I made my own,

and sang in a minor key, when I was lonely.

Joyfully, I sang with praise

when first I knew of GOD.

I crooned the songs of love.

I hummed the lullaby of birth,

and laughingly sang the mirthful songs

of friendship,

of families,

of homes, and earth.

I sang.

And I will sing

with signing hands and cracking voice

in language old and new.

And I will sing

with well trained tongue

and note both clear and true.

I will sing the song

that I have known from my youth,

and those I’ve learned along the way.

I will sing the song that’s new,

and I will sing for the joy of singing

the song that’s new.

For I will sing to the Lord,

I will sing to the Lord,

I will sing to the Lord,

A New Song.

Adam

Eternity ends where time begins,

and space is required for living.

Life comes in on needles and pins,

like a limb,

an arm,

a hand,

a foot, waking from sleep.

God’s Adam,

born from eternity,

created in time,

given life in time,

given space in Eden.

Adam’s Adam,

born in time,

broken in time,

sin in Adam’s time

sexual,

blooded,

red. red earth in their veins,

rutting red earth in their veins.

Adam’s Adam!

Expelled from God’s Eden

moist red earth ’neath their nails,

dried, caked,

unyielding red earth in their mouths,

lost from Eden,

dried out,

damning the name of God,

answering the call of God with evil,

hiding from God,

hoping to be found.

God’s Adam,

sent,

born from eternity,

living in time,

giving in time,

for Adam

for me,

for Eden reborn.

And time ends where eternity begins.

Paradise

Before the garden there was the land,

Primeval,

untouched by human hand,

But the work of God had already begun.

God shaped the vale, and raised the hill.

God stacked the mountains, row on row,

and left the valley floor just so,

A pine tree there,

Two oaks beyond,

A cedar bent by winter’s ice,

and maples scattered here and there,

It was a slice of paradise.

We were given such a place

to tend,

to mend,

to manage for a while,

A bed of tulips where the rise begins,

And where it ends,

Some summer flower to catch the breeze

as it plays hide and seek among the trees.

In the evening, as the sun just sets,

We walk with God in Eden.

The Storm

Quiet,

Calm,

Peaceful,

Still,

Sky so transparently crystal clear,

Unclouded,

Earth so ripe, so green,

Waiting with open arms,

Humming a monotone tune.

Softly now,

Thinly now,

Thickly now,

The darkness moves like house lights dimmed,

The monotonous hum is hushed.

Lightning,

Lightning, like the jagged sound

Of a hard