Remembering Jesus: Sonnets and Songs

by John Leax

Overview

Description: In a series of dramatic monologues, first-century men and women--some real, some imaginary--remember, often from the perspective of old age, their encounters with Jesus and reflect on the significance of those encounters. Some comprehend and welcome him as Messiah. Others comprehend him only as an extraordinary figure and remain puzzled by their memories. A few are angered by him and bitterly reject any claim their encounter might make on them. The monologues and songs are arranged to be read simply as a book of poems or as a series of meditations spanning the ministry of Jesus to be read one a day during the season of Lent.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498217071
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	03/20/2014
Series:	Poiema Poetry , #11
Pages:	60
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.31(d)

About the Author

John Leax was for many years Professor of English and Poet in Residence at Houghton College. His most recent books of poetry are Tabloid News (2005) and Recluse Freedom (2012).

Table of Contents

Prayer 1

Zacharias 2

Old Shepherd 3

In Rama There Was a Voice 4

Resurrection Song: With Money in their Hands 5

Recognition 6

Zebedee 7

The Sixth Man 8

The Centurions Servant 9

A Good Joke 10

Sower 11

Resurrection Song: The Glad Earth Quaked 12

A Certain Man 13

Given Our Disposition 14

Daughter 15

Simon Muses 16

Fisherman's Dream 17

Spy 18

Resurrection Song: Terror Seized the Three 19

Bethzatha 20

Three Ends 21

Salome

Herod Antipas

Herodias

Leper 24

Samaritan Leper 25

Resurrection Song: And They Remembered His Words 26

The Young Ruler 27

At Ephraim with the Disciples 28

When Joseph Died

With His Eyes

The Work Of Wood

Nazarene 31

Villager 32

Resurrection Song: On the Road 33

A Woman of the City 34

Malchus 35

A Palace Guard 36

Pilate's Wife 37

Rufus 38

Mother 39

Resurrection Song: Our Gardener Christ 40

Lazarus 41

Bystander 42

A Friend of Joseph 43

In a Garden of Decapolis 44

The High Priest's Maid 45

Before Patmos 46

Resurrection Song: The Beloved Disciple 47

Simon the Magus 49

Acknowledgements 51

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"John Leax is one of today's premier poets. With Remembering Jesus he utilizes his poetic skills in the serious business of imaginative play. Take! Read! Enjoy!"
—Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline

"Memories are tricky things, as Leax reminds us in this striking new collection of poems. One of his protagonists comments on the 'images pressed on the coin of memory.' But imaginative remembering is a true poetic gift, especially from a writer who hews faithfully to what is hinted at in Scripture. These verse chronicles imagine what Jesus's contemporaries experienced—brief glimpses of the Savior that breathe new life into our own understandings. These are poems of possibility. . . . "
—Luci Shaw, author of Scape

"Touching. John Leax invites us to know Jesus deeply by telling his story again in new ways, new words, flashes of heartbreaking beauty. Some phrases are etched in memory: 'Where the deep water darkens Galilee.' Remembering Jesus is a work to savor and cherish, a treasure-box of insight, wonder, and devotion."
—Emilie Griffin, author of Green Leaves for Later Years

Editorial Reviews

"John Leax is one of today's premier poets. With Remembering Jesus he utilizes his poetic skills in the serious business of imaginative play. Take! Read! Enjoy!"
—Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline

"Memories are tricky things, as Leax reminds us in this striking new collection of poems. One of his protagonists comments on the 'images pressed on the coin of memory.' But imaginative remembering is a true poetic gift, especially from a writer who hews faithfully to what is hinted at in Scripture. These verse chronicles imagine what Jesus's contemporaries experienced—brief glimpses of the Savior that breathe new life into our own understandings. These are poems of possibility. . . . "
—Luci Shaw, author of Scape

"Touching. John Leax invites us to know Jesus deeply by telling his story again in new ways, new words, flashes of heartbreaking beauty. Some phrases are etched in memory: 'Where the deep water darkens Galilee.' Remembering Jesus is a work to savor and cherish, a treasure-box of insight, wonder, and devotion."
—Emilie Griffin, author of Green Leaves for Later Years

From the Publisher