The Man: a Poet's Vision of Jesus

By Ann Wright

The Man: A Poet's Vision of Jesus continues the author's spiritual journey of faith. Specific events in the New Testament are described or alluded to, but the poetry reflect's Ann's thoughts and interpretations of the life of Jesus. Jesus was the Son of God, but for a brief period, he was a man who lived among men - and changed the world forever. This book stresses his humanity, his ability to understand us and the way we live, and perhaps helps us appreciate even more the sacrifices he made for mankind. This is the second book of poetry published by the author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462040506

Book preview

THE MAN

A Poet's Vision of Jesus

9781462040490_TXT.pdf

Ann Wright

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

THE MAN: A POET’S VISION OF JESUS

Copyright © 2011 by Ann Wright

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ISBN: 978-1-4620-4049-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-4050-6 (e)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 08/12/2011

Contents

FOREWORD: THE GREATEST STORY

THE HERETIC

JESUS THE JEW

THE PEOPLE’S GOD

JOSEPH

MARY

A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS STORY

THE GAME

HEY, BASTARD!

TEMPLE VISIT

JOHN

YES

JOSEPH’S SON

THE WAITING MAN

A FACE IN THE CROWD

JESUS LAUGHED

THE DISCIPLE

THE PRINCE

THE MAN

THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED

LOOK! HERE COMES JESUS!

JUDAS

IT IS I, GOD. IT IS I.

THE WOMEN

FORSAKEN

THE TEARS OF GOD

CAIAPHAS

FAME’S REWARD

THE SHROUD

40

EASTER

THE MODERN MAN

WHAT WOULD I DO, JESUS?

ANTICHRIST

WAR LORD

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

JESUS, HOW WILL I KNOW?

HELP

IT’S TOO HARD

WHAT IF I GOT IT WRONG, GOD?

JESUS LOVES ME

SONG

SONG 2

LAST WORDS

BOOK 1

9781462040490_TXT.pdf

THE MAN:

A POET’S VISION OF JESUS

FOREWORD: THE GREATEST STORY

Jesus Christ. Can I presume to write about a man

Already acclaimed throughout the world? Do I think I can

Add a voice, a thought, a hope that no one else has known?

My bible studies, started late, still have not grown

To match the learning of others. In fact, the bible vexes me.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John - four versions of one story.

Yet throughout them all, a common faith in one teacher;

Faith shared, passed on, embraced by populace and preachers

Until the world was changed forever by one man’s philosophies.

I was changed, am changing still. So I start with these

Four gospels. Four men trying to be one voice

Of remembrance, of respect. Four men who made a choice

To dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ. Four men who

Inscribed his life, his immortality. Only two

May have walked with him. Scholars doubt that they shared

His daily life. But their reverence for him made them dare

To perpetuate his message. Jesus did not write.

His thoughts, his dreams, his goals could have been lost in spite

Of the esteem that he inspired in countless hearts and minds.

The gospel authors immortalized his words. In fact, we find

That other gospels also chronicled Jesus’ life;

But elders chose just four because of political strife.

Just as now, our ancestors made him what they chose.

Devout no doubt but human, the authors’ words impose

Their understanding, bias too, so that the man we see

Reflects less of humanity than his divinity.

Though Son of God, he was a man. His brief time on this earth

Must have embraced human feelings beginning with his birth.

I believe he felt hunger, hot and cold, and thirst.

He laughed with joy, wept in sorrow, despaired when life was worst.

He must have felt how we felt, knew how frail we were.

If we embraced his words, his God, he knew what we’d incur.

He tried to show us we could face ordeal, death, contempt.

Jesus could have walked away, but he did not exempt

Himself from pain. We watched him die. He was just a man.

But then his wonder showed us that, just as he, we can

Overcome the worst of life; for best of life lies in

Our God, our Jesus, our faith, our soul, the love we have within.

THE HERETIC

What a conundrum! Every facet of my faith

Reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ,

A man who wrote nothing, whose words and deeds

Are reported by many. Yet scholars often argue

About who actually knew Jesus and wrote with authority.

What’s more, the bible I read has been translated

From historical documents many times

Before written on the pages in my hands.

Some people would have me