The Author Explains His Poem, Identity, A Poem of The Freedom Place

The Poem, Identity, a Poem of The Freedom Place, is found on page 6 of my book of poems, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy, Words of Comfort And Hope.  This is a poem that gives hope in God during your darkest days.


TITLE
I always struggle to come up with titles for my poems and often wait until after the piece is written. I want one that is not obvious but is a clue to the poem so readers will be forced to think about it.

With this one, I went through several titles as the poem took form. I ended up with a title that refers to a doctrine of the Christian faith about our accreditation before God as being hidden in the sacrifice of Christ. The scripture at the bottom of the page, Romans 8:1, is a reference to this teaching.

STRUCTURE
The 27 lines make this one of the longer poems in the book. There are three sentences which are broken up by line breaks, most of which are 5 and 6 syllables long with a few exceptions placed for emphasis.

Illustration for the poem,
Identity, a Poem of the Freedom Place
From the Book,
Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy
© Adron 2018

It starts with a repeating phrase of three syllables followed by a five syllable line,
"You try, and
 You try, and
 You try to do good..."
(Yes, I know it is redundant and a cheap emphasis). The drama is further set up by two lines of five syllables,
"But your failure
Seems to be stronger..."
The poem takes the first turn with two 5 syllable lines,
"Until your bones ache
With guilt and remorse."
The next turn introduces the hope,
"But the promise of God
Is..."
This is part of a set of six lines of five and six syllable lengths, which cause the reader to move through with ease. This section leads the audience to the hope which is the object of the poem.
Line 24 ends the second sentence with the two words, "In Christ."

The poem switches to a soft voice as it concludes. The conclusion is made of three lines of different lengths, so the reader pauses to consider each meaning. The bluntness of the conclusion is a contrast to the metaphors earlier. The soft voice calms the bluntness of the last statement.

WHAT IT SAYS
This poem says that in spite of our best efforts we experience failure of character or purpose, leading to guilt and shame. But there is hope because those who have come to God through faith in Christ will find that they are free from guilt and condemnation.

WHAT IT MEANS
This poem points to eternal, powerful, and abiding hope. It is not a hope in our efforts or some vague force of the universe. Our hope is in God because He does not condemn our failures if we are in Christ.

This makes sense of the second part of the title because our freedom from judgment is through our identifying with Christ.

This poem points out that if a person is feeling guilty and discouraged by failure in their lives they can have hope because of Christ in their lives.

ILLUSTRATION
The picture I drew for this is a road through a barren land divided by a crevasse. It illustrates the first half of the poem about our defeat.

You can read this poem on page 6 of the book. If you would like to read a sample poem choose the link below for the website.

© Adron 3/24/18

An Author's Discussion Of His Poem, He Who Works

This poem, He Who Works, A Poem about Your Plan, is on page 5 of my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

I wrote this as a poem of reassurance of the loving purposes of God on your behalf.

TITLE
The title, He Who Works, A Poem About Your Plan, is in contrast to the poem. A reader may think it is about their own plans by the words, "about your plan." However, when you read it you find it is not about the plans you have made, but they involve another one.

MY CREATIVE PROCESS
I often start with an image or word picture of something and weave my message into it. This one began with the desire to say something particular. First, I wrote it out as a simple statement, then tried for days to come up with imagery to explain my thought but nothing fit. I tried different rhythms but felt the message was diluted by too much structure.  I returned to the original thought and kept rewriting each section until it said what I wanted.

STRUCTURE

A drawing of a wheelbarrow with flowers ©
Illustration of the poem, He who works
from Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy ©

This poem is so simple it is barely a poem at all. It is in a free-verse style and has only 20 lines forming five sentences. Some of the line breaks are one or two words long. It starts out conversationally with two "they say," and "you ask" statements; this brings us to a question that sets up the poem's concluding narrative.

WHAT IT SAYS
It starts with, "They will tell you God is good..." This is what people of faith say to encourage others in their times of difficulty. But lines follow that ask, "You say, 'where is the good...'" The poem acknowledges the pain "Yes, it hurts..." Then offers an explanation, "but God is working." The last five lines are an affirmation of God's love and goodness.

WHAT IT MEANS
We have a different perspective of God's goodness when we experience trials than when we are at ease. When we question God's purpose we may not get an explanation that satisfies us, but there are reasons to trust God and to hope during these times.

ILLUSTRATION
The poems in this book are illustrated.  A theme in many drawings is of a road leading through a landscape, some of the scenes are pleasant and others are barren. I choose a pleasant scene for this one, with a cart full of flowers beside the road.

You can read this poem on page 5 of the book. 

© Adron 3/21/18

The Poet Explains His Poem, Choose, A Poem Of Him

This poem, Choose, a Poem of Him, is found on page 4 in my book, Beyond these Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

TITLE
The title, Choose, a Poem of Him, was not easy to decide on. It gives away too much too early. Obviously, the poem is about choosing someone over things. You have to read it to know who it is and what the things are.

STRUCTURE

Illustration for the poem, Choose,
From Beyond These Dark Lands are Edges Of Joy
Words of comfort and Hope.
By A.E.Dozat © 2018

This poem is written in a free-verse style. It is short, only twenty-one lines.  The lines 1,4, and 7 are one-word lines, the word "reject." They are each followed by a statement of three things to reject, which are related to isolating yourself. Lines 12, 16 and 18 Mirror the first half by again using only one word, the word, "accept" which is followed by a description of the presence of God in His Spirit.

WHAT IT SAYS
This poem uses the comparison contrast method to say that we must refuse to withdraw from God and His compassion, and accept His presence.

WHAT IT MEANS TO ME
I struggle with depression and I know that there are times when you just want to go away and be closed off to others and God. So for me, I must remember to avoid this unhealthy activity.

This is where the title makes sense because to reject one thing and accept another is a matter of choice. It is, at least for me, the foundation of other healthy activities.

ILLUSTRATION
Like all the poems in this collection, I drew an illustration. I know illustrating your own poems is amateur but friends encouraged me to include my art.

The illustration is of a road leading past a tree with a bench in its shade. The bench is big enough for two, this is to suggest that you would sit there with a companion.  It is a representation of communion with God.

This poem helps you to see that there are still some choices available during your difficult time and one of those choices is to choose to accept God's love and comfort.

You can read this poem on page 4 of the book. If you would like to read a sample poem choose the link below for the website.

To read a review CLICK HERE.

© Adron 3/19/18

The Author's Discussion On His Poem, There Is No Question, A Poem About Foundations.

The poem, There is No Question, a Poem About Foundations, is found on page 3 in the book titled, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, Poems of Comfort and Hope, by A.E. Dozat.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE POEM

TITLE
I choose the title for this poem with irony since it opens with questions, and pursues those questions throughout the first half, but the title is really explained by the concluding line. (I can't give that away here, you have to buy a copy and read it).

STRUCTURE
This poem is 25 lines long and most of the lines are 4 to 6 syllables. It opens with the word, "Maybe" which is repeated in lines 1, 5, and 9. I admit using the word, "Maybe," reflects a soft voice which is reinforced with the words me and us but the soft voice is mitigated with the word, "certainly," at line 13. I considered changing the voice in the second half and it would have made sense for the second half but would have been distracting and cost the poem unity. The soft voice persists with the use of we and us but is dominated by word, "Certainly," line 13, 16 and 25.

The maybes are all solitary, especially the first,
"Maybe

Illustration
There is No Question, A Poem About Foundations
from the Book,
Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy
© 2017 A.E. Dozat

We each wander
Through our desert."
The following two maybes are less dramatic but still expressions of solitude or estrangement.
The certainties contrast the maybes with expressions of God's communion.

WHAT IT SAYS
The maybes reflect our questions of why do we go through trials and problems. The reasons given include our rebellion, anger or stubbornness. There are many reasons we go through trials and there are times we just do not know why so it is all a bunch of maybes. But there are certainties "We must lean on God..." and "God is willing to reach to us and revive us ..." The concluding lines point to the ultimate Certainty.

MEANING
The message of this poem is simple. The point is God; that He is the ultimate answer to our questions and the ultimate source of comfort.

ILLUSTRATION
I drew the illustration of low hills covered with barren trees and a road leading to distant mountains. The barren trees reflect the maybes of the poem causing you to wonder why the trees are barren. The distant mountains are a classic device that represents God.

This poem, like most in the book, encourages you to have intelligent confidence in God during the dark times.

You can read the poem, There Is No Question, A poem About Foundations, in my book Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy, which you can purchase for $9.62 plus shipping, use the Buy Now button below.

There Is No Question,

A Poem About Foundations

Maybe,

We each wander

Through our desert

To reach a point...

Maybe,

Because of our rebellion

Or our anger,

Or our stubbornness...

Maybe,

We must come to where

We cannot go on

And fall on our face.

Certainly,

We must lean on God

And just rest in him.

Certainly,

God is willing

To reach to us

And revive us

When we collapse,

So we can learn

Day by day

That

God is

The Certainty.

© Adron 3/17/18

The Author's Commentary of His Poem, Above The Darkness,

This is the 3rd poem in my book, Beyond These Dark Lands, Are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope. Like all the poems in my book, this is short and written in free-verse style. You can read it on page 2.

To get it through Amazon CLICK HERE.

THE TITLE
The full title is Above the Darkness, A Poem of Vision. It is a title that gives hope that we can escape the darkness of our lives but in a way that is not humanly possible.

STRUCTURE
Most of the lines in this poem are phrases of three or four syllables that make up the four sentences of the poem. This way the reader considers each statement on its own before moving on to the next. The reader is thereby taken by steps to the declaration at the end.  It all gets the reader prepared for the last line which is an encouragement and a visionary statement.

WHAT IT SAYS
The first section describes how we "Wish to fly... Long to run." We are trapped by our difficult times and want to fly away or run away.  "We wait the day...rise up on wings."

Illustration for the Poem, Above the Darkness,
from the Book,
Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of joy
© 2018 A.E. Dozat

Then it takes a turn with, "Do not give up! You may yet arise..." there is hope but not by your own power or by your own strength.

Then poem transitions to a future hope, and at the same time gives hope. Even though we are weak we must continue. Our hope must be based on a vision or view of God. The poem ends with a positive declaration that what we hope for in faith will be granted through the Spirit. Those who are familiar with The Bible will think of Isaiah 40:31.

The idea of looking to God in our weakness and receiving His gift of strength through Christ is one that I return to in several poems in this collection.

THE MEANING
We all go through times where we long to escape our circumstances but we lack the resources in ourselves to flee. In those times we can hope, and do more than hope because we look to God and keep our focus on Him. He is the one who lifts us. If we focus on God the time will come when we are not in that place of darkness anymore but above it. The place of darkness still exists but we soar above it in faith.

THE ILLUSTRATION
Most of the illustrations I drew for this collection of poems feature a road and this one has a road leading through a forest viewed from above. In the sky is an eagle with wings spread out.

The scripture footnote is from Isaiah 40:31. This is the only scripture I referenced more than once.

This is a poem of hope, a hope in the Lord, and His promise to lift up those who look to him.

You can read the poem, Above the Darkness, A Poem of Vision, in my book Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy, which you can purchase for $9.62 plus shipping, use the Buy Now button below.

If you would like to read a sample poem choose the link below for the website.

If you are in need of encouragement or know someone who does you should order a copy today, you will glad you did.

To read a review CLICK HERE.

(c) Adron 3/14/2018

A Poet's Reflection on His Poem, Crucible, a Poem of Intelligence Over Feelings.

Crucible is the second poem in the book of poems titled, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy. It is the first poem of Chapter 1. It is the second poem in the book because another poem is used as a prologue to the collection.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE POEM

I wrote this poem to inspire people who are going through hard times to consider the ultimate question of God's goodness. I wanted to guide them to see that God is still good even when times are not.

IMPORTANCE OF THIS POEM
Every poem was carefully considered before adding it to this collection, and this was no exception. Now I realize that no other poem could take its place because it introduces key thoughts that are foundational to the rest of the book.

HOW IT WAS PLACED AS CHAPTER 1 PAGE 1
I do not remember how I decided that this poem should be the first. I spread the pages over the dining table and made stacks for each chapter, I moved poems from one stack to another and then shuffled the order so that each chapter had variety while keeping similar poems separated. I thought that Crucible would make as good a beginning as any other. Now I see that this one is so important and foundational it had to be Chapter 1 page 1. It must have been placed there by the hand of God.

TITLE
A crucible is an iron kettle used to melt metals in intense heat to burn off the impurities so that the metal left will be more valuable, pure, and useful.  The title of this poem says that our hardships are a crucible and that our imperfections are being purged in the fire. I know it is not a very original title and many have used it before, but I thought about it for a long time and could not come up with a better title. The subtitle, "A Poem of Intelligence Over Feelings," needs to be seen in view of the poem, (sorry, you need to read the poem to fully appreciate it).

OVERVIEW OF STRUCTURE
This poem is one long sentence. Each phrase is arranged on its own line, this forces the reader to consider the statements one at a time instead of reading the poem as a whole.

Illustration for the poem, Crucible,
from Beyond These Lands Are Edges of Joy
© 2018 AE. Dozat

It opens with a list of disappointments that we may face like an unfulfilled desire, a need for rescue, or for healing. Next the phrase "Then you are facing that critical collision..." introduces that action is needed because we have come to "a place of decision." The concluding phrase explains what that decision is.

WHY THIS POEM HERE
I wanted the reader to face God from the very beginning.

WHAT THIS POEM SAYS
In every trial, we are faced with questions of God, questions of His goodness, His power, or His will. This is the collision of faith and life which we must resolve. This is why I gave it the subtitle of A Poem of Intelligence Over Feelings. The question of God is answered with an intelligent act of will and leads us to make a faith decision.

In every struggle and trial, we make a decision regarding God. There is no going on without the answer to the question of God.

THE ILLUSTRATION.
Almost all the illustrations in the book have a road or path to give the book visual unity. I drew road through a dark wooded area for this poem. You might ask why didn't I draw a kettle but I thought it would have been too obvious.

CRUCIBLE

A POEM OF INTELLIGENCE OVER FEELINGS

When you do not receive

The hoped for blessing,

Or the rescue needed,

Or the healing of pain,

Then you are facing the

Intersection;

That place of decision

Upon which all matters.

Where you must decide if

You can declare boldly

Even in suffering,

That

"God, my God, is still good,"

Because that is the place

Where faith passes the test.

(c) Adron 3/11/18

What It Feels Like When You Make The First Sale Of Your Own Book.

As a niche publisher, I am on my own. I wrote the book of poems, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, for the hurting and struggling people I meet and friends who need encouragement and hope. I do not have the backing of a big business for resources and financing. I know right now my business model is more like a hobby, but I hope it will not be that way for long. I didn't write this book for the money, after all, it is poetry and only a handful of poets in modern times have made money; I just hope to break even and not plunge family and home into debt. I wrote it out of love for God and His children.

I had enough money to buy two dozen copies of my book and share them with some friends earlier this week. They are pastors and ministry heads at the Baptist state convention headquarters where I work in the mailroom. Even though they are seminary professors and most have PhDs in theology or church or something, they always treat the high school graduate in the mailroom (me) with the greatest dignity and respect. So I expected them to be gracious when I gave them each a copy, but they were far more than that, they were extremely affirming, highly congratulatory, and eager to celebrate my accomplishment.

Then today one of the ministry heads at the convention who is a man of God, a pastor, a Church planter catalyst for the state convention and head of a ministry organization to special needs families expressed his appreciation of my book of poems and ordered some copies to give to some folks he is ministering to.

It fills me with awe, humility, and gratitude to think that my collection of poems is going to be used by the Lord to encourage and bless people. You would think that I would be jumping for joy that someone likes my book of poems so much that they want to buy some copies, and yes I am joyful but the sense that I tried to do something for God and that He is blessing it is an awesome realization. I feel like I just want to keep on saying, "Thank you, God, it is all for you Lord," over and over.


If you would like to read a sample poem, choose the link below for the website.

If you need encouragement or know someone who does, you should order a copy today. You will be glad to have this book.

(c) Adron 3/8/18