Virgil
Found Poem: 1 Kings 19:11-13
by , 08-06-2011 at 09:43 PM (1711 Views)
A found poem is poetry taken from prose writing and reshaped to a poetic form. It’s “found” because the reader is so impressed with the writing that he sees a poem there in the language waiting to be crafted.
I came across this passage (from a third party reference) in the Old Testament that I was taken aback with its beauty. I probably had heard it before and never thought twice over it, but this time it sunk in and I realized this was poetry waiting to be shaped.
Now normally with found poetry, one only arranges the lines, but since this is a translation from the original Hebrew and there are many translations available, I felt free to play with the diction as well as just crafting the lines. I looked over more than half a dozen translations, mixed and matched for the best sound and rhythm, might have even thrown in my own word choice at one place, so I doubt you’ll find this exact translation anywhere, and came up with the following. But really my contribution is very small. The real credit goes to Jeremiah, the original author.
Found Poem: 1 Kings 19:11-13
God said to Elijah,
“Go out and stand upon the mountain before the Lord,
For the Lord is about to pass by.”
Now there was a great wind, so strong that it
Was splitting the mountains and breaking the rocks
In pieces before the Lord.
But the Lord was not in the wind.
And after the wind, an earthquake,
But the Lord was not in the earthquake;
And after the earthquake, a fire,
But the Lord was not in the fire;
And after the fire,
A still small
Voice.
And when Elijah heard it,
He wrapped his face in the mantle
And went out and stood at the entrance
Of the cave.
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