Epiphany's Veil Purity's Vein

By Christopher D. Choate

Epiphany’s Veil, Purity’s Vein is an epic poem that takes the reader on surreal travels, tenuous travails and wondrous prevails through humanity’s dark plight and God’s reach into that terrible night.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664221192

Christopher D. Choate

Since the 1980’s, Christopher Choate has been writing poetry centered on God and Man’s relationship with Him. His influences are classical poets such as John Donne, William Blake, Gerard Manley Hopkins and John Milton.

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Copyright © 2021 Christopher D. Choate.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system

without the written permission of the author except in the case of

brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Image Credit: Christopher D. Choate

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2120-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2121-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2119-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021901334

WestBow Press rev. date: 02/02/2021

Epiphany’s Veil

Purity’s Vein

for Jesus

May this verse be the

wooing at Your feet.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Book I — Epiphany’s Veil

I      Wilderlands of Flesh

II     Desert Soul

III    Expanse of Spirit

Book II — Purity’s Vein

I      Happy Fortune

II     Mortal Endeavour

III    Conflict

IV    Revelation

V     The Suitor

VI   Wisdom Comes

VII  Betrothal

Introduction

When did this book begin? In a way, it started on one of those long metro rides home from work. In the vacuous letting go of the day, I started writing something I didn’t want to forget. It turned into some verse. The verse turned into a rambling poem. I honestly didn’t want the verse to stop, but the train came to the exit for me to be on my way. I started thinking, though, What if the poem didn’t have to stop? It didn’t stop for John Milton with Paradise Lost, published in 1667.

So the quest began. Apologies to John Milton, John Donne and many priceless forerunners. That metro ride was about eight years ago. Over the years, I’ve had many musings, many poetic ramblings. But more than that, I’ve woven into this book a lot of my work from decades ago.

It’s one continuous poem that tells of human ways, human values, and eternal values. It spells of the human condition. Some of this work is allegorical. Some is Biblical – not just factual but fundamental. And it reveals yet one more time the human who is so much more than a human. His name is Jesus of Nazareth, Galilee, Israel, Earth.

May you enjoy this offering to Him.

Christopher D. Choate

Concerning Biblical References

The poetic verses referencing scriptures cited in this book are not direct quotes from any translation, unless otherwise specified in the citation; they are meant to be strictly poetic versions of the book, chapter and verse cited in the footnote. However, the citations may be referenced in the NIV translation.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Prologue

the beat of the heart’s drum is just

in steady rhythm

that percussive melody

all we perceive in time

speaks a song well known

that too familiar refrain

in ebb and flow

of life in steady rain

first comes but feverish and strong

a sound of fervent zeal

and persists, empassioned song

till all is sure and real

now She trembles in finite closet

at what She discovers

playing these parabolic bars

trembles excited

trembles in fear

when She saw them all come to one

it rendered nearly her very soul asunder;

shattered, scattered, as glass in opera play

where resonance makes all

momentous dissemble in chaotic fray

of all that we know

and all that we can know

of all that is known

and all that can be known

and all possibilities of what could ever be

of time before

and time that will be

was there ever a time

where time did not exist?

does it not exist still?

has it ever been?

so begs the question

what do the answers mean?

He presides above

beyond, outside, and within them all

and pushes there

as we push up from down below;

so come those times, these sacred times

when all meet together

in one, electric kiss

what wonders await from journeys afar

where the wild goose roams

and lights along the way

wading in mystery pools

now caressing shadows there, fair

painting them free, to linger there

so deep divine the alabaster jar¹

discover new pieces of eight

beneath, between ecstatic toes

as grows their roots there

stimulated delight and planted there

where Bethsaida knows your nameb