The Poet Discusses A Poem From the Book Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy

When Battle Plans Go Bad, it is a poem on page 24 of my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy. If you are discouraged this book of poems will give you hope.

TITLE
The first part of the title, When Battle Plans Go Bad, tells you that this poem is about a struggle that does not turn out well. The second part of the title, A Poem of Success, turns it around. It has a suggestion that there is something about losing a battle that is successful or maybe it is perspective.
It makes you think that perhaps there is a success in our failures.

STRUCTURE
This poem is 24 lines long and each line is less than seven syllables long.
The first eight lines give a picture of the situation we often face
"You feel that
failure follows you
like a stalking hound"
But lines 9 through 17 turns our attention to God who knows your situation with understanding and a solution.

Illustration for a poem,
When Battle Plans Go Bad
From Beyond These Dark Lands
Are Edges of Joy,
© A.E Dozat 2018

Lines 18 through the end offers the hope of giving God your "broken life" and receiving His answer.

MEANING
This poem assures us that God knows your hurt and He already has a solution to your need. At the heart of this poem are the lines,
But God knows your mess.
He understands
And answers
With love,
Acceptance,
Atoning sacrifice,
And an empty tomb.

IMAGE
My drawing for this poem shows a scene of a road entering a landscape where a battle was fought. Broken swords and weapons litter the sides of the road.

This poem assures the reader that there is a victory ahead in spite of our failures.

I chose this scripture to accompany my poem.
“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57, NLT

If you want to read this poem it is on page 24 of my book which you can purchase below.

© A.E. Dozat 2019

How an Uber Driver Will Use My Book of Poems in His Ride-share

Why my uber driver friend gives out copies of my book of poems to his riders. 

Let me tell you about it.

Sometimes I work on my writing at one of the cafe areas at the local shopping mall. Glancing up I saw somebody smiling as they approached me. After a moment I realized that this was a dear friend. I asked him to join me and we caught up on what we both have been doing.

My friend is a man of faith and he shared that God is working in his life, some things have gone well and others have not; but he still sees God's loving touch in it all. He explained that driving for uber has helped him to make ends meet. He was excited that driving for a ride-share has given him opportunities to talk to people. Grinning, he said, "It's like I'm a bartender, everybody tells me their problems. They just open up." He offers them the kindness of a listening ear and every day he tells others about his faith in God.

I felt that God was speaking to me to give him some extra copies of my book of poems of encouragement, and his face lit up. He told me that it was a great idea to give copies to people who rode in his uber and that he would keep a few in the back of his car for his riders..  He reminded me that there are times when such a book will speak to someone's heart in ways that a sermon or minister couldn't. He said he knew people would be blessed and encouraged by the poems in the book. He said that just having copies for his riders to see will open up doors of opportunity to speak about God.

Of course, I appreciated the encouragement and felt very humbled by his praise. I hope he has many opportunities to share his faith and the book. I pray that God will be honored and people will be encouraged.

To order my book at wholesale directly from the printer CLICK HERE.

I am very excited that this book of encouraging poems is now available on Amazon. Amazon seems to be the way that people want to shop, so I am glad to make it available on their site. 

I did not write this book to make money but to be an encouragement to others.  That is why I priced it so low. I do not make much and what I do make I use to buy copies for those who need it and cannot afford it. 

© A.E. Dozat 2018

The Perfect Thank You Gift, Illustrated Poems of Encouragement and Faith

I am humbled and amazed when people contact me to request copies of my book of poems, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy.

To order directly from my printer and receive wholesale pricing, CLICK HERE.

Recently, a lady contacted me to order ten copies as thank you gifts for friends who worked with her on a committee she leads. She said the book of poems was so moving and inspirational that she felt she had to give a copy to each person.

She wanted to give something to each person after they put on a big event. In the past, she would give each one a $5.00 gift card for a donut shop or coffee shop. She decided that, although it would cost twice as much, she would make a book gift instead. She felt it was the right thing to do since several persons were going through difficult times with loss and discouragement.

I am grateful that God uses my book of poems to encourage and comfort people with His love.

I am very excited that this book of encouraging poems is now available on Amazon (see the link below). Amazon seems to be how people want to shop, so I am glad to make it available on their site. 

I did not write this book to make money but to be an encouragement to others.  That is why I priced it so low. I do not make much, and what I do make, I use to buy copies for those who need it and cannot afford it. 

© A.E. Dozat 2018

Wonderful Book of Poems of Comfort and Hope, Now on Amazon

This book is so perfect for you to give to someone who needs encouragement. And if you are looking for hope and peace in your own life you will find that this book will guide you to that place in a gentle way. The poems in Beyond These Dark lands are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope speaks to the heart of those going through struggles and hardship.

I am very excited that this book of encouraging poems is now available on Amazon, (see the link below). Amazon seems to be the way that people want to shop, so I am glad to make it available on their site. 

I did not write this book to make money but to be an encouragement to others.  That is why I priced it so low. I do not make much and what I do make I use to buy copies for those who need it and cannot afford it.

© A.E. Dozat 2018

The Author Explains His Poem, Circumstances Not, A Poem of the Reason

What is the poem, Circumstances Not, about? It has several meanings and more than one interpretation.

To order this book directly from the printer and get the best possible wholesale price CLICK HERE.

WHY I WROTE THIS POEM

I wrote this poem to encourage people who are suffering. It says that in time they can choose to rejoice. It was inspired by the scripture in which the Apostle commands Christians to rejoice. The wording of the scripture is woven into the poem.

WHAT DOES THE POEM'S TITLE MEAN?

In this book, all the titles are in two parts. The title, "Circumstances Not," is vague on purpose, it could be a negative statement about circumstances or a denial of the effects of circumstances or the poem is not about the circumstances at all. The subtitle, "A poem of the Reason," is close to the main point of the poem that we are looking beyond our circumstances to something else.

HOW IS THIS POEM ARRANGED?
This poem is 17 lines totaling 78 words arranged as free-verse but not without structure.

Lines 1 through 13 all use the same pattern of the word "Rejoice!" and followed by an example of the persecution the Apostle experienced.
Line 14 is a summary exclamation, "So, yes, rejoice!" 

The last three lines explain why in all these situations we can rejoice.

A reader who is familiar with the scripture, Philippians 4:4, will recognize a pattern in the poem that reflects the scripture.

THE POEM

CIRCUMSTANCES NOT,

A Poem of the Reason

Rejoice!

In prison the Apostle said it,

“Rejoice.”

Chained to Roman guards he said it,

“Rejoice.”

Forgotten by friends he said it,

“Rejoice.”

Betrayed by countrymen he said it,

“Rejoice.”

Facing martyrdom he said it,

“Rejoice.”

Cold, alone, and hungry he said it,

“Rejoice.”

So, yes, rejoice! 

Not because of these things

Illustration for the Poem, Circumstances Not,
A Poem of the Reason,
From The book, Beyond These Dark Lands are
Edges of Joy
©A.E. Dozat 2018

But because of 

Him Who Is Above All Things.

© A.E.Dozat

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS POEM

The last two lines tell us that we can find a reason for joy. Our joy is in someone who is greater than circumstances.
"...because of Him
Who Is Above All Things."

HOW IS IT ILLUSTRATED
I continued the theme of a road. In this illustration, the road is a wooden walkway over a marsh, but the planks are askew or absent in places so the walk hazardous. It is to show a difficult circumstance. There is hope because the sun shines beyond distant hills.

This poem fills an important place in this book about finding joy and hope. This poem encourages you by showing the Apostle Paul's joy in spite of his circumstances.

THE SCRIPTURE
The footnote on the page is the scripture, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4, NIV.

To order this book of poems directly from the printer at the best wholesale price CLICK HERE. 

© Adron 5/6/18