Remembering Jesus: Sonnets and Songs

By John Leax

In a series of dramatic monologues, first-century men and women--some real, some imaginary--remember, often from the perspective of old age, their encounters with Jesus and reflect on the significance of those encounters. Some comprehend and welcome him as Messiah. Others comprehend him only as an extraordinary figure and remain puzzled by their memories. A few are angered by him and bitterly reject any claim their encounter might make on them. The monologues and songs are arranged to be read simply as a book of poems or as a series of meditations spanning the ministry of Jesus to be read one a day during the season of Lent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Release date: Mar 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781630871673

John Leax

John Leax was for many years Professor of English and Poet in Residence at Houghton College. His most recent books of poetry are Tabloid News (2005) and Recluse Freedom (2012).

Book preview

Remembering Jesus

Sonnets and Songs

John Leax

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REMEMBERING JESUS

Sonnets and Songs

The Poiema Poetry Series

Copyright © 2014 John Leax. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

Cascade Books

An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3

Eugene, OR 97401

www.wipfandstock.com

ISBN 13: 978-1-62564-560-9

EISBN 13: 978-1-63087-167-3

Cataloging-in-Publication data:

Leax, John

Remembering Jesus : poem / John Leax.

The Poiema Poetry Series 11

viii + 52 p. ; 23 cm.

ISBN 13 : 978-1-62564-560-9

1. American Poetry—21st century. I. Title. II. Series.

PS3562.E262 2014

Manufactured in the USA.

To

My friends

In the Chrysostom Society

Past and present

The

Peace of Christ

Prayer

Matthew 26:25, 27:5

I dream of grace. The tongue that might have praised,

That might have sung forgiveness equal to

The sum of all the mercy God shot through

Creation when his stone-sealed Son blazed

Awake, the light to light betrayal’s dark

Design, is swollen black in the hole that was

A mouth; my brother, Judas, hanged the ark

Of his redemption. Still I dream of grace.

I dream I take him from his tree, and lift

Him up to life. Should one betrayal cost

A soul—eternity demand such thrift

Of grace—the lost remain forever lost?

How then my three denials be forgiven?

Christ, Savior, win your chosen back for Eden.

Zacharias

Luke 1:5–41

Elizabeth became my voice when all

My praise was silence, doubtful words by angel

Presence stopped in mercy, my faith too small

For careless acquiescence to the marvel

He announced. In silence I became a sign

Of grace Elizabeth conceived. Her touch

Brought me alive to wordless bliss, divine

Intention whole in broken love