The Prophet
(Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice. . .Matthew 5:6)
Sometimes the rage, anger, unresolved mourning under the skin
erupt in sudden violent spasms--
surprising yourself and the people who love you.
Often it is just anger and you feel like Jeremiah
with a truth to tell--one you cannot but yell out
to the world.
Speak your piece, o friend,
share the vision,
whether it be terrible,
or beautiful--
Your job is to tell the truth!
[Bob Coughlin November 19, 2014]
As I composed this poem, I was thinking about prophetic people I have known or encountered over my lifetime. Some achieved a degree of fame (or notoriety), like Maurice McCrackin, Marion Bromley, Ernest Bromley, Daniel Berrigan, Dorothy Day, Chuck Matthei, Mike Rivage-Seul. But most are known only to a few people (these names I will keep in my heart). During the Vietnam protest era, the government thought many of the protesters to be mentally ill. Ha! Who's mentally ill??
As I composed this poem, I was thinking about prophetic people I have known or encountered over my lifetime. Some achieved a degree of fame (or notoriety), like Maurice McCrackin, Marion Bromley, Ernest Bromley, Daniel Berrigan, Dorothy Day, Chuck Matthei, Mike Rivage-Seul. But most are known only to a few people (these names I will keep in my heart). During the Vietnam protest era, the government thought many of the protesters to be mentally ill. Ha! Who's mentally ill??
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