Poetry

Lectionary Poetry – Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost (Year C)

Lectionary Poetry

With the dawn of a new church year, we have launched a new feature on our website, a weekly post of poetry that resonates with the lectionary readings for that week.
 
 

*** Narrative Lectionary ***

Lectionary Reading:
2 Samuel 11:1-5, 26-27; 12:1-9

 
 

CLASSIC POEM:

Devotion to Duty
Siegfried Sassoon

I was near the King that day. I saw him snatch
And briskly scan the G.H.Q. dispatch.
Thick-voiced, he read it out. (His face was grave.)
‘This officer advanced with the first wave,

‘And when our first objective had been gained,
‘(Though wounded twice), reorganized the line:
‘The spirit of the troops was by his fine
‘Example most effectively sustained.’

He gripped his beard; then closed his eyes and said,
‘Bathsheba must be warned that he is dead.
‘Send for her. I will be the first to tell
‘This wife how her heroic husband fell.’

*** This poem is in the public domain,
and may be read in a live-streamed worship service.
 
 

CONTEMPORARY POEM:

Bathsheba
Rebecca Guess Cantor

SNIPPET:

I washed myself on the roof,
shrouded by a haze of flowers—
not provocative, just charming
and plain in my nakedness.

[ READ THE FULL POEM ]

 
 

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