The Poet Discusses His Poem, ASKING, From the Book, Beyond These Dark Lands.

The Poem, Asking, a Poem of the Second Answer, is found on page 25 of my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy.

I wrote this poem because I hoped it would encourage people in a certain way.

TITLE
The first part of the title is just the word, ASKING. When you are going through dark times, there are many questions you ask yourself and God. It was for those times that this poem was written.

The second part of the title is A Poem of the Second Answer. This is to make you think that we must keep on asking because there is more than the simple common answers that we at first find.

STRUCTURE
This poem is 25 lines long, and each line is four to six syllables long.

The first four lines introduce the question of "why?"
     "The question of "Why?"
     Is a heart-scream of pain."
Lines 5 through 10 acknowledges how hurtful our pain is.
Lines 11 through 17 tell us that pain is real, legitimate, and should be faced.
Lines 18 to the end tell us that there is another question to ask and it may be the most important.

The Fork in the Road
Illustration for the Poem Asking
from Beyond These Dark Lands
Are Edges of Joy

The overall style is blunt and straightforward.

MEANING
There are times in our lives when we are faced with pain, and that pain is so deep that it causes us to doubt God, life, and anything good. It is in those times that we ask the big questions. Pain starts a process in our lives and souls, but we must be sure it is only a start and that we do not stay in the place of pain. Sometimes we need to be intentional about moving on.

SCRIPTURE
The accompanying scripture is from Job, “The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9, NLT

ILLUSTRATION
The illustration I drew for this poem is of a road going through the countryside, and the road divides in a fork going two opposite ways.

© A.E. Dozat 2019

The Author Discusses His Poem, PEACE, A Poem of Source

This poem makes a simple statement. It puts our struggles in perspective by bringing them into contrast with the peace of God.

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TITLE
Like all the poems in this collection, this has a two-part title. First is the word "Peace." This gives a feeling of hope. The second part of the title, "A Poem of Source," is the key to understanding the poem. This part gives us a compass arrow that points to what is our source of peace.

STRUCTURE
This poem is less structured than most in my collection: it is only 20 lines forming five sentences.

Illustration for the poem, Peace, from the book
Beyond These Dark Land
are Edges of Joy
By A.E.Dozat © 2018

The first four lines ask if you will find peace when you are surrounded by so many troubles. The sixth is composed of the one word, "but," to indicate a new direction. Lines six through eleven begin to challenge our ideas of peace.
"True peace is not
Just the absence of cares,
Worries or troubles."

Lines twelve through fifteen are the voice of peace answering the challenge of what peace is and isn't.

Lines sixteen through the end concludes with who is the source of peace.

MEANING
This poem acknowledges you have problems, and they are real. You can find peace if you look for it in the correct place. Peace is not in the absence of troubles but the presence of Him, who is bigger than our troubles.

ILLUSTRATION
This poem is illustrated with a pen drawing of a tree stump with a shoot coming up from one of its roots as a statement that hope may come out of loss.

VERSE.
The scripture accompanying this poem is a classic, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." John 14:27, NIV.

This poem will encourage anyone who wonders why they do not possess inner peace. It will show them that the source of peace is not themselves but God, and if they seek Him, they will find peace.

If you want to read this poem, it is on page 22 of my book.

© A.E. Dozat 9/13/18

The Author Explains His Poem, Freedom, a Poem of leaving Darkness

The poem, FREEDOM, is one of my most sincere poems in the book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy. You can download a PDF of the book at the link below.

TITLE
The full title is FREEDOM, A Poem of Leaving Darkness. There are many poems about freedom. In this poem, freedom comes from forgiveness.

The second part of the title is the important part. We are in darkness that enslaves us. The title gives us hope that we can leave the darkness and become free.

STRUCTURE
This poem is 26 lines long forming seven sentences. The majority of the poems in this collection are written in the third person; but in this one, I use the first person to tell the story of the reader.
"I see you oppressed
And driven through darkness..."

Illustration for the Poem Freedom,
From the book Beyond These Dark Lands
Are Edges of Joy,
By A.E. Dozat © 2018

and

"...What you are seeking

I would give freely."

Each line is five syllables long, so it has some structure.

OUTLINE

The first five lines describe the searching oppressed reader who seeks freedom. 

Lines six through thirteen describe the speaker's reaction to the one who is seeking freedom. 

Lines 14 through the end are a testimony of having found freedom and the supernatural response to share it with others.

MEANING
The meaning of this poem is that though you are in darkness and troubled with guilt, but you can hope because freedom from your guilt is available. It says that others have found freedom through Christ, and you may find it too.

This poem is one of the places where the book becomes personal; here, I, as the author, speak directly to the reader. It is a poem of hope and goodwill. It makes clear that Christ's forgiveness is hope for the lost.

This poem is illustrated with a pen drawing of a dark, narrow ravine and a path that leads to the open space.

SCRIPTURE
The bottom of the page has a verse of scripture from the epistle of Colossians. ”For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14, NIV.

This poem tells you that there is hope and you can find freedom from all your inner darkness.

© Adron 7/3/18

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.

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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.

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© Adron 5/6/18

The Author Explains His Poem, Patience, A Poem of Him Who Watches

PATIENCE, A Poem of Him Who Watches, is found on page 13 of my Book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

I wrote this poem as encouragement for those who feel that they are going through a long time of hardship.

TITLE
The title is two-sided. At first, it could be that we are going through the dark time and must be patient, but, the subtitle, A Poem of Him Who Watches, might be about how God watches over us through our long night, or that we are watching for deliverance through the night. This open-ended title starts the reader thinking right from the beginning.

STRUCTURE
The poem is 26 lines long with grouped rhythms to speed up or slow down the reader. The first nine lines are the opening statement. Lines 1-6 are all short and move quickly, followed by two lines of both five syllables then line 9 is six syllables. The opening combines not only place and time but also experience.
"Those who have lived
only

Illustration for the Poem, Patience,
A Poem of Him Who Watches.
From the Book,
Beyond These Dark Lands are Edges of Joy
© A.E. Dozat 2018

under the cold stars..."

Faith is explored in lines 10 to 19, They vary in length between four or five syllables
"Faith knows the sun
will certainly rise..."

Lines 20 through 22 talks about the comfort of faith that is based on truth.

The poem concludes in lines 23 through 26 by declaring that our patient faith proves our love for God.

MEANING
The metaphor of the stars makes us face eternity with a sense of our smallness and ignorance of what is beyond our place and time. But faith hopes for the dawn and watches in that hope because we know our patient waiting is evidence of our faith in God who is also watching over us.

ILLUSTRATION
The poem is illustrated with a pen drawing of a road leading to the sunrise.

THE LESSON THIS POEM TEACHES
Our lives are a living statement. How we react to suffering speaks to others. This poem helps people see that their reaction to trials must come from a mature thought-out faith. It shows the purpose of enduring hardship.

There are many reasons and explanations for our suffering and no one answer suffices for all, but this poem says that our enduring faith in God during hardships proves our love for God.

The poem is accompanied by this scripture:
“However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ -- the things God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9, NIV.

This poem like all the poems in this collection gives comfort and hope.

© Adron 5/2/18

The Author Explains His Poem, The Passing Shadow, a Poem of Returning

The poem, THE PASSING SHADOW, A Poem of Returning, is found on page 12 of my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

The death of my brother who died of an overdose was the motivation for this poem about grief and bereavement.

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TITLE
The encouragement begins with the title. It explains that our time of difficulty and trial will come to a conclusion and that there is a time when you will be able to hope again. The shadow is grief, and time allows it to pass. The "Returning" makes you think of your own returning to living life after the season of grief.

STRUCTURE
It looks like a freestyle poem, but it has some rhythm since most of the lines are 6 syllables long except for a few variants that give emphasis. It is 26 lines.

It starts out by describing the deep grief we sometimes feel. The first 13 lines describe sorrow and loss,

Illustration for the Poem, The Passing Shadow,
A Poem of Returning,
From the Book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy
Words of Comfort and Hope
By A.E. Dozat © 2018 

"You can walk away...
But you cannot leave 
The emptiness You carry inside."

Lines 14 to 19 expresses our response is sometimes with anger and withdrawal,
"You just have to sit ...
And be angry at God 
And hate everything..."

Lines 20-26 offers the hope that a time will come when you can live again,
"The days of Exhaustion will come. 
Then it will be time..."

Everything leads to the last line that tells about the hope that after this shadow passes we will begin to live again.

ILLUSTRATION
This poem is illustrated with a road leading past a solitary great oak tree in a barren land.

The Passing Shadow is part of a book that offers encouragement and hope, this poem says that it is ok to react with sorrow, anger and even withdrawal for a season, but there comes a time to begin to live again.

SCRIPTURE
The scripture in the footnote is from Revelation 21:4, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

© A.E. Dozat 4/23/18

The Author Explains His Poem, To Touch The Pain, A Poem Of The Healer

My Poem, To Touch the Pain, A Poem of the Healer, is found on page 11 of my book Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope.

I wrote this poem for those who seek freedom from the burdens of their inner pain and to point them to The Lord who is the master physician of hurting hearts.

TITLE

I gave it the title, To Touch the Pain, with some reservation because A person may not want to be reminded of their pain. The subtitle takes us from pain to the Healer.

STRUCTURE

This poem is 21 lines long and most are three and four syllables, except for lines 12 through 16, where a new rhythm makes the main point of the poem stand out

The poem does not have much in the way of illustration but opens with a metaphor for pain.

"You have known pain
For so long
It has now fused
To your soul
Like hardened iron."

I did not want to belittle the pain anyone feels, but to acknowledge it.

The 21st line makes a concluding point and that line is given effect by being six syllables long.

    TO TOUCH THE PAIN,

    A Poem of the Healer

    You have known pain

    For so long

    It has now fused 

    To your soul 

    Like hardened iron.

    Its weight breaks you,

Illustration for the poem, To Touch The Pain,
A Poem of The Healer
© 2018 By A.E. Dozat

    And you need

    To be made whole.

    This pain is deep,

    Unending and dire.

    You are willing

    To try any cure,

    Make any sacrifice,

    And pay any price; 

    Why not

    Consider God?

    If you reach for Him

    You will find 

    He is willing,

    And you will learn

    That to touch Him

    Will begin

    Your healing.

MEANING
This poem is simple. It describes the struggle with pain, then asks that since you are willing to do anything for relief "Why not consider God?"  It encourages you to reach out to God because you will find that He is willing to begin your healing.

ILLUSTRATION

The illustration is a pen drawing of a road that leads across on a rocky desert landscape. In the middle ground is a cross.

This poem, like many in the book, will inspire people to be open to God's healing and working in their lives. I hope that when a person is ready to deal with their pain that they consider the comfort and healing from a source that was rejected before, and look to God.

The footnote is a Bible verse, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-29, NIV

You can read this poem on page 11 of the book. 

To read a review CLICK HERE.

© A.E. Dozat 4/8/18

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Can Poetry Be Used By God To Minister To Someone Who Is Discouraged?

Can God use my book of poems in somebody's life to make a difference?

GOD IS A BIG PART OF MY LIFE
God is a big part of my book of poems. I felt that the commission to write it came from Him. I was working on another collection of poems last year but felt that The Lord wanted me to do this one instead. I know a lot of people say God told them to do this or that and when it is done you really wonder why, so I approached this with great care and reverence.

As a person of faith, I feel that God must be part of everything I do. He is not just a part or afterthought but the directing energy that leads and empowers me. To do something for God in your own wisdom, or strength is not doing something for God, it is doing something for yourself; so I sought God for every word and each step in writing this book of poems.

THIS BOOK HAS QUALIFIED POTENTIAL
This book has a unique potential to be used by God.

• I drew on my experiences knowledge and the wisdom gained from following the Lord for over forty years. 
• I did research to maintain healthy and doctrinally correct content.
• I even withdrew some pieces that were not sound according to discussions I had with licensed professional counselors. 
• A friend who teaches counseling at a seminary reviewed it and I made further changes.
• Over the last year, I made many revisions to keep the message clear.

RELIANCE ON GOD
More importantly, I relied on The Lord for guidance through much prayer and searching His Word, the Bible, daily. I constantly returned to Him to seek His leading and even His censure. I listened to his "still small voice" in times of meditation and reflection.

JUST THE BEGINNING
I feel this book is in accord with God as He revealed Himself in the Bible. I've written it in a spirit of humility and obedience and believe it is something that He will use. Of course, He is God the All-powerful but He is also God the All-holy and He will not partner with sin, rebellion or foolishness but will use that which is lowly and humble.

GOD'S WORD
Every poem features a Bible verse that encourages or points to The Lord and His Christ. Putting Bible verses in the book was not a ploy or marketing hook but an expression of faith and honor to God, who said, "My word will not come back void but will accomplish that which I please." (Isaiah 55:11).

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
God through Christ is the answer to our pain, guilt, and emptiness. I finished the book with an explanation of how to come to Christ, who by his atoning death and resurrection is the source of peace and hope for each one of us.

HOW GOD MAY USE THIS BOOK

• A friend may give it to someone who is going through a difficult time and the words of comfort may speak to their heart.
• A pastor may share it during hospital or hospice visitation, after conducting a funeral or counseling someone experiencing loss or grief.
• Copies may be placed in the lobby of a house of worship, funeral parlor, counseling center or any place of faith or service. 
• A copy might be mailed to a friend or loved one who is going through a hard time.
• It could be available in retreat centers and a person in a season of reflection may read it and hear God whisper comfort to them.
• Missionaries doing work among the poor or homeless may find it useful as a way to begin conversations.
• First responders and disaster relief counselors may find it helpful to give to victims of a natural or personal disaster.

When a person receives this book they may not then be ready to receive comfort or be open to the Lord at that moment, but it will be there when they are ready by God's spirit to read this and turn to Him in faith.

If you or anyone you know feels that you need God to speak comfort and light the way to hope in your life then pick up a copy of this book, He may use it in your heart.

(c) Adron (c) Adron 3/2/18

What is it like to finally get the book you wrote in your hand for the first time?

After working over a year on writing, organizing, revising and illustrating my book I opened up the mailbox, and there it was at last; a priority envelope with a copy of my work, BEYOND THESE DARK LANDS ARE EDGES OF JOY, WORDS OF COMFORT AND HOPE, my Collection of poems. 

On the inside, I am dancing for joy. 

I went upstairs to my desk and opened the packaging. The book looked beautiful and just the way I hoped it would be. I sat down and looked at the illustrations I made for it and was very happy with the drawings. I was able to open the book and sit in a chair and read it for the first time as an audience and not as a wordsmith full of doubts and second guesses. It was a time of sweetness and pure indulgence, it was the only worthy way to reward my work. 

The printing company, The Book Patch, did a nice job, I was afraid it would be an inferior job or second-rate, but not at all. They took my work and produced a book that would stand with pride on the bookshelf at any store. I am eager to show it to all my friends. 

I am immediately aware of the many people who helped me along the way; without their help, I would

Holding My Book
 At Last!

not have been able to accomplish this task. I am very grateful for their help and encouragement. 

But this is not the end of the road because as hard as it was to write the book I am beginning to understand that promoting and marketing it is much harder. 

Obviously, I have the blog and the Facebook page, and a website under development. But I am beginning to see that getting my book of poems to market may be the harder part of the enterprise.

I've been thinking of this project as a piece of creativity and an expression of my devotion to God and service to others. Now I have to think of this book as a product or a piece of inventory and myself not as an author but as its marketing agent. In fact, if someone were to ask me I would not say I am a poet or writer, I would say that I am a publisher in a niche market.

So the moment of elation is over. Now I am going to go and write a business plan.

(c) Adron 2/28/18