Elijah: A Fictional Reinvention of the Great Prophet's Life in an Epic Poem

By A LeRoy

A Dangerous Prophet for Dangerous Times!
(Now joined by the author's audiobook narration)
Israel. 9th-century BC. Jezebel has killed the true prophets of the Lord, and Elijah must flee her wrath…
Beneath the Juniper of fragrant breath,
Its scant shade bringing comfort nonetheless,
A long-locked man collapses, prays for death,
A fugitive, alone, voicing distress,
All hope abandoned in the wilderness.
"It is enough now, Lord, I can no more!"
And lays his head upon the desert floor...

But he is not alone. Embraced by a shapeshifting goddess, counseled by a great angel, he is empowered to call down fire from Heaven!
In the spirit of Dante, Shakespeare, and Homer, this epic poem relives the stunning miracles of the great prophet as described in the Old Testament—fed by ravens, raising the dead, commanding the rain, calling down fire from Heaven, outrunning horses, ascending to Heaven.
But along with all this, the author weaves a rich thread of mythological influences: shapeshifting goddesses, shamanic journeys, dueling dragons, Queen Jezebel's seductions, and dissension in the ranks of King Ahab's bodyguard.
Saucy yet sacred, and now joined by the author's own audiobook narration, this timeless tale takes wing in the poet's pen, the poet's voice!
"An epic tale, Biblically based, but with considerable writer’s freedom that makes the book wholly entertaining."
San Francisco Review of Books
"Just wonderfully written and put together… A new realm of reading."
#1 of Top-20 Authors, 2018, Amy's Bookshelf Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Unparagoned
• Release date: Aug 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781521194249

Book preview

Elijah

Elijah

A Fictional Reinvention of the Great Prophet's Life in an Epic Poem (Book 1 in The Epics Collection)

A. Le Roy

Unparagoned

Copyright 2017-2021  Abdiel LeRoy

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License Notes

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This book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, resold, licensed, or publicly performed except as permitted in writing by the author. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text is an infringement of the author's rights. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

Contents

Books in The Epics Collection by A. LeRoy

Get the Audiobook!

Elijah

Preface

Introduction

Invocation

Book I

Book II

Book III

Book IV

Book V

Book VI

Book VII

Book VIII

Book IX

Book X

Book XI

Book XII

Jezebel’s Lament (Sample)

Preface

Introduction

A Virgin Bride

From the Author

Books by A. LeRoy

Epic Poems

Fiction

Poetry Collections

Non-Fiction

Notes

Books in The Epics Collection by A. LeRoy

1

ELIJAH: A Fictional Reinvention of the Great Prophet’s Life in an Epic Poem

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2

JEZEBEL’S LAMENT: A Defense of Reputation, a Denouncement of the Prophets Elijah and Elisha

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3

OBAMA’S DREAM: A Divine Revelation in the Style of Shakespeare

Get the Audiobook!

Find purchase links for the author’s audiobook narration of Elijah, and hear an extended sample, at geni.us/Prophet.

Elijah

A Fictional Reinvention of the Great Prophet’s Life in an Epic Poem

Preface

I have, at various times in my life, identified with Elijah's feelings of isolation and futility, and my imagination often conjures him collapsed in despair under a tree's shade in the desert, as described in the Old Testament. ¹ That is where this epic poem begins.

I developed the concept over several years, with John Milton's Paradise Lost always in mind as an exemplar of epic poetry in general, Bible-inspired storytelling in particular, and even the inspiration for my name, Abdiel!

My structure was influenced by Milton's too—starting in the middle and working forwards, while earlier events are unveiled in conversation between man and angel.

This reinvention of the Bible story also includes some 'R'-rated elements or, as one reviewer put it, naughty bits. Readers who prefer 'PG' stories will find them in my Christian Reveries Collection.

Abdiel LeRoy

Introduction

Elijah's life, as he alternates between triumph and trial, is a storyteller's delight. In one episode, he is single-handedly defeating hundreds of false prophets in a showdown on Mount Carmel, and in the next, alone in the wilderness and praying for his own death! And then of course, there is his spectacular exit, ascending to Heaven in a chariot of fire.

Elijah might also be described as a prophet's prophet, communing with angels, performing miracles, raising the dead, and in a time of great religious and political turmoil, fiercely confronting the powers-that-be. And who could ask for more perfect villains to oppose him than the wicked Jezebel and her pliant consort, King Ahab?

Elijah's story is also one of transcendent hope for those who have experienced depression or despair, as he did. For his life's work not only lived on in prophecies that came to pass after his time on Earth, but in the very similar ministry and miracles of his disciple Elisha, and of course in his eternal fame.

The vehicle I have chosen to tell Elijah's story—with a good amount of invention thrown in, of course—is epic poem, and I have used a variety of verse forms throughout. For the most part, Elijah speaks in blank verse, the angel Abdiel in heroic verse (rhyming scheme ABAB), and the narrator in Rhyme Royal (ABABBCC). Meanwhile, following time-honoured traditions of the genre, I have included passages of digression and reflection within the narrative, and these appear in italics.

I have also italicized the 'Arguments' (meaning summaries) at the top of each of the twelve chapters (or 'Books'), and the occasional word for emphasis when the poem is read aloud. I have not, however, made many indications of syllable count for the narrator—such as when Heav'n fits the iambic rhythm better than Heaven, Israel than Israël, or t'ward than toward. But a good narrator won't need that type of guidance!

In any case, I encourage readers—as Gerard Manley Hopkins put it—to take breath and read it with the ears, as I always wish to be read. In other words, to speak the lines aloud as you read them. Or you may listen to my audiobook narration, available at all retailers, or free at your local library.

Some historical context may be useful to the reader: After the reign of Solomon, Israel split into two kingdoms—Israel and Judah. Our story begins some 60 years later, around 874 BC, when Ahab succeeded to the throne of Israel. Concurrent with most of Ahab's reign, Judah was ruled by Jehoshaphat. Our story ends shortly after the death of Ahab's son Ahaziah in 851 BC.

Elijah is extensively footnoted for readers interested in its literary allusions. Most of these are from the Bible, though I have not included obvious references to Scripture's main narrative on Elijah, which runs from 1 Kings 17 to 2 Kings 2.

Finally, a note about the seraph angel, Abdiel, whom I first came to know through the great epic poem, Paradise Lost by John Milton. He first appears in Book V of that work, when he is the only angel among the multitude at Satan's command to defy the call to rebel against God. He leaves the apostate ranks and joins the loyal warriors.

Later, when the two great armies of angels face off, it is Abdiel who delivers the first blow, striking Satan with such force that ten paces huge Satan back recoiled. So inspiring is his example that I not only changed my first name to his in 2013, but went on to give Abdiel recurring roles both in this work and in my little epic, Obama's Dream.

More recently, I wrote Jezebel’s Lament, where Elijah’s chief antagonist tells her side of the story, then combined all three books—Obama’s Dream, Elijah, and Jezebel's Lament—to form The Epics Collection.

Enjoy!

Abdiel LeRoy

Invocation

Exemplars of this literary form,

The Epic Poem, usually write

An Invocation, and I will conform

To this convention of artistic rite.

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Virgil, for instance, with a prayer began

To stir his theme of ancient Rome's foundation:

How fleeing refugees from ruin ran,

Forged in a foreign land a fearsome nation. ¹

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A muse gave Homer his omniscience too,

Unseeing seer ² of Ilium's battlefield. ³

Imagination conjured, and gods flew,

Divinity in human form revealed.

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And blind Milton with prayer chose to begin,

Light to illuminate his inner eye

Seeing the spawn of snaky sorceress Sin ⁴

And Satan's flight, swift-winged, to Eden's sky. ⁵

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They demonstrate weakness becomes strength ⁶ when

Poets from Nothing everything create, ⁷

When Inspiration hears inspired men

And Spirit from its origin emanate.

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In this my own invention Scripture leads,

I shall retell Elijah's finest hour,

Envisaging the prophet's greatest deeds,

Our forerunner of speaking Truth to Power.

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He called down fire and false prophets slew,

Conversed with Heaven's angel, raised the dead,

Summoned the rain, met God Almighty, who,

Having sent wind and fire, whispered instead.

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To which fair daughter of Mnemosyne

And Zeus shall I appeal? Calliope

Inspires the art of Epic Poetry.

Erato, ⁸ add your voice! Melpomene! ⁹

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The Muse of Fire's ascendancy perforce,

Whom Shakespeare's Chorus summoned to effect, ¹⁰

I earnestly entreat to steer my course

As well, beyond the reach of intellect.

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'Tis that same power by which Ezekiel saw

Angelic beings, the great expanse of sky,

The fire-bronze likeness of a man before,

The Lord enthroned with four-winged seraphs by. ¹¹

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I now therefore unto that godhead true

Appeal, that Thou encourage and inspire

Such flights of fancy as our prophet knew

When mounted in his chariot of fire!

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And though we know the plot Scripture narrates,

Guide my conjectures, such as how God's word

Came to Elijah as the Word relates,

Receiving revelation as he heard.

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The ravens, too, embodying miracle

Blessing Elijah, has Imagination

Seen through the lens of ancient oracle

As shapeshifters, beings of Transformation.

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Now, brother poets too, who went before,

You cloud of witnesses ¹² I call upon:

A double measure of your spirit pour!

I ask as he who took the mantle on!

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To you, John Milton, I appeal most

Who more than any other has inspired

This work by conjuring an angel host,

Even some characters my musings fired.

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Your opus was informed by dreams at night.

I would entreat for mine to be so too.

Sharper of vision than a mortal's sight,

Fantastic scenes appear to inner view.

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And to the man himself boldly I call,

Elijah, who was forerunner of John

The Baptist, ¹³ saw the three disciples fall

On to their faces, Peter, James, and John, ¹⁴

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Now in your mastery over Death and Time,

Who reappears to shape our history, ¹⁵

Incarnate in my pen and in my rhyme,

Unfold to me this ancient mystery

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So that, with belt of Truth, ¹⁶ Salvation's crown,

The Spirit's sword, my tongue a gifted pen, ¹⁷

I'll undertake this work to win renown.

Bearing the shield of Faith, I write. Amen!

Book I

Elijah lies beneath a tree's shade in the desert, praying for death, then falls asleep. He is twice awoken and fed by an angel, who assumes a human form so as not to overwhelm the man of God. The angel is the famed warrior Abdiel. Elijah relates how he earned the name 'Troubler of Israel', his prophecy that no rain would fall in the land, his flight to Cherith Brook where, according to God's command, he would be fed by ravens. Meeting the lovely maiden, Adina.

Beneath the Juniper of fragrant breath,

Its scant shade bringing comfort nonetheless,

A long-locked man collapses, prays for death,

A fugitive, alone, voicing distress,

All hope abandoned in the wilderness.

It is enough now, Lord, I can no more!

And lays his head upon the desert floor.

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Now take my life! he whispers as he peers

Up to the leaves whose flittering shadows play

Across his sun-seared countenance. His fears

Somehow to sleep surrender in dismay.

At times, God will a man of faith assay,

And so provoked will this one protest much,

Yet wakes he now unto an angel's touch.

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What hero wasn't in devotion tested?

What hero never faltered in his quest?

And who, reading his tale, would be invested?

Errors are made and even by the best,

That their achievement may be doubly blessed

When, having overcome adversity,

We see discovered their core quality.

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Virtue burns brightest when from trials