.

Like Him

“But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at
the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the
same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord,
the Spirit.” —2 Corinthians 3.18

___The soul yearns for
So many things which are so bright, so dim,
_But in myself I find one thing
__If thing that is to be
____Like Him.
                                       
__The universe itself
Cries out in every leaf that is its whim,
_Or oceanic rock, planet’s spin,
__That has at heart to be
____Like Him.
 
__The shades of colour even—
Sounds spanning spectrums broad and thin,
_And feelings in their intensity
_Suffer, glowing, want to be
____Like Him.
 
_We find—in some shocked state—
Some being of unbelief and faithless sin—
_We find in evil’s pitched misery
_A different mode that is to be
____Like Him.
 
__If ever I am down—
Down where the human heart finds hell begins,
No brother, sister, wife or lover sings—
_Then tuning to some melody
____Is Him.

.

.

James Sale has had over 50 books published, most recently, “Mapping Motivation for Top Performing Teams” (Routledge, 2021). He has been nominated by The Hong Kong Review for the 2022 Pushcart Prize for poetry, has won first prize in The Society of Classical Poets 2017 annual competition, and performed in New York in 2019. He is a regular contributor to The Epoch Times. His most recent poetry collection is “StairWell.” For more information about the author, and about his Dante project, visit https://englishcantos.home.blog. To subscribe to his brief, free and monthly poetry newsletter, contact him at James@motivationalmaps.com

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The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.


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29 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Your unusual structure strongly supports the depth and intrinsic meaning of this poem. I read this one reverently and respectfully noting the continuing alliteration in subsequent verses reinforcing my perception of your adept and creative writing.

    Reply
    • James Sale

      I don’t know how you do it, Roy: you always seem to be the first to comment on my work, and as you spend a lot of your time tracking the Ruskies, how do you find the time? But I am grateful you do, as you always are perceptive and appreciative: so thank you!

      Reply
  2. Brian A. Yapko

    James, this is just so heartfelt and beautiful! It really resonates with me — especially those last lines “If ever I am down—/Down where the human heart finds hell begins,/No brother, sister, wife or lover sings—/_Then tuning to some melody/____Is Him.” Your work is devout and yet highly original in form and relatably conversational — a meditation, if you will. Thank you for this.

    Reply
    • James Sale

      Cheers Brian – you are one of the top critics on this site, as you constantly spot things which are significant, as least to the poet! “relatably conversational — a meditation, if you will.” is exactly right: as one rachets up the difficulty of form, the aim is to make the language easy and sound every-day-ish – almost as there were no form! Thanks – appreciate it.

      Reply
    • James Sale

      Ha ha ha!!! Very good Michael – yes, like Him: the source of all beauty. One of my all-time favourite lines from the Bible is Psalm 27.4: “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.”

      Reply
      • Cynthia Erlandson

        That’s one of my favorites too, James!

  4. Cynthia Erlandson

    Thank you, James, for your elaboration of this verse from Corinthians about the effects of being made in His image. It’s a difficult thing to express, but you’ve done it well. Your starting out with “The soul yearns for . . .” recalled to my mind these lines of a hymn: “And so the yearning strong / With which the soul will long / Shall far outpass the power of human telling.” “Down where the human heart finds hell begins” is a very powerful line! I also enjoy the originality of the varied line lengths.

    Reply
    • James Sale

      Thanks Cynthia: I think the line you especially like resonates with many because … we have all been there … and we all need something/someOne beyond ourselves to rise again.

      Reply
  5. Jeffrey Essmann

    Thank you so much for this. So beautiful; so profound. (I suspect St. Paul is very grateful to you as well.) God bless

    Reply
    • James Sale

      Thanks Jeffrey. I am really pleased you like it. As for St Paul – well, that would be great, though I am not sure. You may know that my English Cantos are now reaching their end as I travel through DoorWay (aka Paradiso) to the final vision. I have already met St John the Divine on the way and had a chat with him, which I think you’ll find very interesting – perhaps I may include this particular extract in a submission to Evan – but I don’t meet St Paul: he’s probably more severe than St John – a bit too scary perhaps – he might mangle my theology! God bless you.

      Reply
  6. Shari LeKane

    What a lovely structure, James – 4,10,8,6,2 syllabic count by line – iambic heptameter in cascades with a dangling foot – like Him! Such a lyrical and spiritual quality!

    Reply
  7. C.B. Anderson

    Nonce forms are good vessels for strong ideas and allow for free play in one’s work. The reader is pulled in by such creations as Creation itself pulls in the attentive human soul.

    Reply
    • James Sale

      That Creation itself pulls in the attentive human soul is an extremely perceptive comment, CB. Nobody who understands that could ever be bored. Thank you.

      Reply
  8. Adam Sedia

    I do enjoy a good nonce form, particularly with variation in the meter. The ideas flow nicely, and then when you drag us down towards the end, you pop us right back to the heavens. I love what you do with the refrain with its final alteration.

    Reply
    • James Sale

      Yes, thanks Adam: from ‘like Him’ to ‘is Him’ is a full conforming to the image of. Appreciate your noticing that point.

      Reply
  9. ABB

    You truly are a poet of the lord, James. I echo others in my admiration of the poem’s structure; coming up with unique form is something which you are particularly adept at. I like the aptly positioned ‘melody’ in place of ‘be’ in the penultimate line.

    Reply
    • James Sale

      I shall have to quote you on this ABB in future marketing – ‘a poet of the lord’ – like it! But of course, not ‘The poet of the lord’ – that would be to fall into the presumption of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 when he complains to God that he is the only prophet [a prophet of course is a poet] left. What is the Divine response to that? “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.” Your comment on ‘be’ is the other side of the coin mentioned by Adam Sedia in noticing the switch to ‘Is’ in the final line; for Being is the prerogative as well as the absolute essence of the Holy One. Thanks – appreciate your comments.

      Reply
  10. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    James, I love the way you have woven the divine and the very human elements of the soul into a beautiful piece that is crafted with a heartfelt sincerity that breathes music into the mayhem of our existence.

    Reply
    • James Sale

      Thanks Susan – the mayhem of our existence indeed! Apollo is the god of music and of poetry, as you know full well; and of course, god of healing too, which is what music and poetry do!

      Reply
      • Susan Jarvis Bryant

        James, your reply to my comment feels like a bit of divine intervention and has cheered a difficult day. I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy a month ago and battling it is painful, emotionally and physically. I know you have been on a journey far harder than mine and your words on healing have brought me hope and joy. Thank you! More music and poetry – my road to recovery.

      • Joseph S. Salemi

        Dear Susan —

        I read your recent poem at Expansive Poetry Online about your diagnosis. I was deeply saddened to hear of this, and I pray that you will recover health soon. I made no mention of it, but I do so now, since you have posted the news here at the SCP.

      • Margaret Coats

        I too, offer prayers and good wishes for your speedy return to health, Susan.

      • Susan Jarvis Bryant

        Dear Joe and Margaret,
        Thank you both very much for your kind words and your prayers. They mean a lot to me.

      • James Sale

        My dear Susan – I am dreadfully sorry to learn of this and will keep you in my prayers. But one possible piece of good news is that I have a friend – and poet – who was afflicted with Bell’s Palsy some 25 years ago: he is still alive and the facial disfigurement has long since evaporated. Let’s hope this is just a temporary blip. God bless.

      • Susan Jarvis Bryant

        James, thank you for your kindness and for your prayers. It’s so heartening to hear your friend’s face healed. I believe that being a poet assists and speeds recovery! 🙂

  11. Patricia Allred

    Dearest James, I shan’t get into the structure of this poem! I was swept away by your love of God. I read much poetry, where people pen about about God, but none so formidable as in this creation. I felt such velvet humility and sincere gratitude!
    It literally sings of your love of God, and your relatioship to Him. Bless you and may His love surround you, these days of upheaval and angst, in the U.K. I am blessed to know you!
    Sincerely, Patricia

    Reply

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