.

Elisha’s Bones

II Kings 4:32–37, 13:20–21

Elisha died, the prophet doubly strong
In spirit, and his sepulcher was grand,
For he had caused a lifeless child to stand
And speak, then heard the mother’s grateful song.
A withered elder passed away—erelong
The bier was carried forth, with burial planned
Nearby, when lo, a fierce marauding band
Dispersed the fearful funerary throng.
But though they fled, their neighbor’s corpse could not,
And thus they tossed it in the prophet’s tomb
Until, they hoped, the raiders might retreat.
The body rolled stone coldly to the spot
Where lay Elisha’s bones, and in mute gloom,
They warmed that flesh, and roused him to his feet.

.

.

Only the Hem

Matthew 9:20–22

Straightway, the bliss of overwhelming health,
A figure vigorous at rest, and trim
With lively tone I touched in stooping stealth,
Coaxing sound virtue from a garment’s hem.
Defiled within, I used a stratagem,
Huddling unmoved in dust, next shoving near,
Careless of feet that clogged the way to Him,
Mustering strength to rinse this issue clear.
Oh, that moment of dynamic cheer,
Cessation graced of twelve years’ bloody waste!
My fingers, barely brushing wool, revere
The One who wears it, and commends poor haste
As a daughter’s faith. He knew what I would do.
“Be of good heart,” He says. My soul feels new.

.

.

Paul’s Touch

Acts 19:11–12

What news of miracles additional?
Already all have heard of this man Paul.
His power to heal seems unconditional,
For persons take a handkerchief or shawl,
Touched swiftly to his skin, and with it cure
Diverse diseases, or expel demonic
Influence. Cloth soothes discomfiture
Of grievous illness, critical or chronic;
Paralysis no longer hinders legs
From ambling in the square, or ears from hearing
Paul’s preaching of the Spirit as he begs
Both Jew and Greek to walk in ways God-fearing.
Mere matter, put in touch with sanctity,
Unleashes spiritual activity.

.

.

Margaret Coats lives in California.  She holds a Ph.D. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University.  She has retired from a career of teaching literature, languages, and writing that included considerable wrk in homeschooling for her own family and others.

NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets.

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


Trending now:

34 Responses

  1. Jeremiah Johnson

    “Cessation graced of twelve years’ bloody waste!” – I like the Sound and Sense of that line!

    On another note, this sonnet reminded me of an entry in the Oxford anthology: Divine Inspiration: The Life of Jesus in World Poetry. “On the Woman with an Issue of Blood” – a 6th century sermon in verse by Romanos, is, I’ve always thought, the gem of the whole anthology. Unfortunately I can’t find the poem in Google, but it is worth the purchase of the book!

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you, Jeremiah, for your comment and for the book recommendation. I own another excellent anthology by the same editor, but mine includes only poems originally written in English. I think I might just come up with the price of “Divine Inspiration” to have that verse sermon by Romanos!

      Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Especially now that I’ve discovered the surnames of Romanos: Theorhetor (God’s rhetorician) in Greek, and simply Melodus in Latin. He was the greatest of the Byzantine liturgical poets, says my biographical dictionary.

      Reply
  2. Jeffrey Essmann

    Impossible to say how much I love these, Margaret, or how deeply they touched me. Lately in my spiritual reading–specifically, my lectio divina–and personal reflection, I’ve been giving much thought to miracle and, more broadly, to the “re-enchantment” (as Rod Dreher puts it in his new book) of religious culture. But these poems bring all my random musings to the very heart of me, as only poetry can–and especially in your extremely talented (and yesyesyes: even blessed) hands. Thanks so much. Jeffrey

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Jeffrey, thank you from my very heart. I too know poetry can have that extraordinary touch gathering thoughts into a moment of transcendent contemplation. And it is a blessing for me to know that these works of mine have done that. Deo gratias!

      Reply
  3. Nicole Hofmans

    These sonnets capture the essence of each biblical moment with elegance and depth.

    “Elisha’s Bones” brings to life the reverence for Elisha’s legacy, showing the awe of his miraculous power even after death. The revival of the corpse with just a touch of his bones is described in a way that emphasizes faith’s mysterious strength.

    “Only the Hem” captures the woman’s desperation and faith as she reaches for Jesus’s garment. The simple act of touching the hem is powerfully symbolic, and the poem beautifully conveys her healing and newfound peace.

    “Paul’s Touch” highlights the incredible impact of Paul’s ministry, where even ordinary cloth becomes a vessel of healing. This sonnet reflects the belief that faith can make anything extraordinary.

    Each sonnet draws me into these stories with clarity and reverence, celebrating faith’s quiet yet powerful miracles.

    As always, thank you Margaret for sharing your gift.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      And thank you, Nicole, for taking the time and making the effort to describe your response to each of these. I see that faith is central, explicitly so in the healing of the woman. But it also motivates the persons who have any part in the healing that occurs through the touch of a relic. And this use of touch to convey God’s power confirms the incarnational basis of our Faith.

      Reply
  4. Roy Eugene Peterson

    These “touching” poems put in perspective faith in the divine and the power to change lives. They are eloquent both in the writing and in the message of miracles. Basing them on scriptural truth from the Old and New Testaments adds authenticity and sincerity.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thanks for the wisdom of interpretation you’ve put in these remarks, Roy. Scriptural truth is always an inspiration when we take time to contemplate the stories we find there. Miracles are not far away!

      Reply
  5. Rohini

    I love them all! Especially, Only the Hem: “With lively tone I touched in stooping stealth,” this truly spoke to me. Thank you for sharing these three perfect sonnets.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you, Rohini, for reading, and being so kind as to find them perfect. I am touched and encouraged.

      Reply
  6. Cynthia Erlandson

    I, too, am very impressed with the beauty and profundity with which you retell these stories— but maybe even more with the genius of putting these three stories together; they shed a new light for me on the subject of relics.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thanks, Cynthia. These Biblical stories of life and healing conveyed through material things reflect the holiness present to us in relics of different kinds. It’s not something that can be adequately explained, but the things somehow bring the holy person near enough for us to feel the power of sanctity.

      Reply
  7. Warren Bonham

    I wish I had some learned comment to make that others hadn’t already expressed more eloquently than I could have. In the absence of that, I can just express admiration for how well-crafted each sonnet is, and for how well they complement each other. These provided a great respite in the middle of an otherwise normal day at work.

    Reply
  8. Phyllis R. Schabow

    And sensing the cure, Jesus looked around and said, “Who touched me? For I felt power go out from me.” One might echo Christ and ask, “Who touched me with these three lovely poems?”

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Very much appreciated, Phyllis. I’m glad to know they had the power!

      Reply
  9. Fr. Jonathan Atchley

    Margaret is a true pro! I write nonsense verse for fun; she seems moved by a higher Wisdom to compose fully-formed, acrobatic Sonnets (making one wonder how she fits that complex word in with the rhyme and meter) presenting a cogent message. I enjoyed them all, encourage her to write more, and have them published and sold for her benefit.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Father, thank you for your judgment that these have Wisdom in them. I’m very happy you enjoyed them–and that you think others will, too!

      Reply
  10. jd

    These three poems are truly inspirational, Margaret. I am going to send them to our parish priest who I have no doubt will appreciate them if he finds the time to read them.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you again, jd! I posted a reply to you earlier, but it has disappeared. I will make this a little different, so that both may be worthwhile to keep if the other comes back in some spooky Halloween manner. The inspiration for these sonnets came from a visit of relics of Saint Jude to my local parish. Hope that your parish priest will like them, and have an opportunity to preside over a visit of important relics to your church, too. More than 20 years ago, Saint Therese made an American tour, and included a stop about 25 miles from me. It can happen!

      Reply
  11. Brian A. Yapko

    Margaret, this trio of sonnets which focus on holy relics and miracles is not only uplifting but instructive as well for we are reminded of the power that arises when the heavenly and material worlds intersect. You describe these not as “holy” relics but as “healthy” relics and this is an interesting insight which presupposes a strong connection between the two. Are they interchangeable? Not in the least. But there is certainly a correlation.

    What is of particular interest to me is the complete humility of the relics in each poem. Bones, the hem of a cloak, the edge of a handkerchief. These are not objects made of gold and silver brought out from the temple. They are not even objects of great historical significance like a fragment of the True Cross or the Holy Grail. They are simple things which nonetheless become portals into a heavenly realm where the Spirit can enter our world and accomplish great things.

    I may have mentioned to you once before my encounter with the relics of Saint Damien of Molokai. I was at the Honolulu Airport when the local Bishop arrived from Rome where Damien had just been canonized and some of his remains were now returning to Hawaii in a reliquary. The crowd that surrounded the Bishop and the religious fervor of the people who were there to greet Fr. Damien’s relics moved me very much. It’s as if they were having an encounter with history, with the man and with God Himself.

    All three sonnets are wonderful, but of the three my favorite is “Only the Hem” for the immediacy and joy allowable by a first-person narrative.

    Well done, Margaret!

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you, Brian, for perceptive remarks on several aspects of the poems. Your experience encountering the relics of Saint Damien, that is, a feeling of the presence of the saint himself by Hawaiian people greeting him on his return from Rome, seems to me typical. Relics make the holy person present. I would say that extraordinary holiness energizes the ordinary relation of matter to spirit that is always there even when we don’t reflect on it. And a visit of relics (like those I’ve experienced of Jude and Therese coming to nearby places) becomes that ordinarily impossible meeting with someone who lived long ago and far away. We who have to conduct friendships at a distance know how meaningful visits are.

      In the title of the sonnet trio, I use “healthy” rather than “holy” because the three Bible stories tell of healing (in the first one, of resurrection). Healing during the meeting with a saint via a relic is less usual than the simple feeling of being together, but it happens. One could merely pray to be healed, but healing by touch is distinctive. And touch is an essential element in the relic stories of these sonnets. Maybe it’s the one sense still available when persons can no longer communicate by sight or speech. As you say, “an encounter with history, with the man and with God Himself” who does the healing by grace when there is a touch in faith.

      I need to make another comment addressed to Evan about the picture for this post, and you’ll be interested, so come back and take a look when I manage to get it written.

      Reply
  13. Jonathan Kinsman

    Mere matter, put in touch with sanctity,
    Unleashes spiritual activity.

    Hello again Margaret! Sorry for the lapse, but life has me frozen in Icelandic sagas of Attic vexameters! Now to your ‘infinite riches in a little room,’ id est, your trifecta of little songs.

    Besides the customary Sweet Coats love of sound and sense wrapping sound Doctrine into an arras arrayed in Hope that is quod erat demonstrandum of the promise of Eternal Life, you snuck in a (I doff my…) hat trick of true poetic Beauty: the Truth we must carve into our hearts!

    Mere matter, put in touch with sanctity,
    Unleashes spiritual activity.

    ‘And the Eternal breathed into his nostrils the neshama of life and the adam became a living soul.’ (Genesis 2:7) Man already had the nefesh, the animal soul, but now mankind has been “put in touch with sanctity,” – meaning ‘holy’ meaning ‘separate, or apart, from others.’

    You demonstrate a trinity of New Life in these sonnets. From the bones of a saint (all OT prophets are considered saints in my Church) to the laying on of hands by a former persecutor of the Faith, your concluding couplet weaves them together in a beautiful Salvation lesson tapestry. With our Lord anchoring the middle speaking to the woman (who is given new life as the man in Kings from “God is my salvation.”) who then can be counted as one of us in the final sonnet where the cure comes from following the Way (the ‘Law’ in biblical Hebrew, Jesus and his teachings in the NT), from the preaching of one, Saint Paul, touched by the light of the Spirit and the voice of the Son.

    Think of Michelangelo’s iconic image on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. The moment the Neshama enters mankind. The moment we are born into sanctity, into the Way to Eternal Life.

    Brava! Good Doctor! You serve your Muse -the Holy Spirit – well!

    Happy Solemnity of All Saints Day!

    Jonathan

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Jonathan, thank you for your extensive explication. You’ve proved that a reader can legitimately find in a poem more than the author intends–using the words she did intend to write! This sequence of three sonnets does have “new life” in each, but I wouldn’t have thought of comparing them to the Creator’s breathing of life into Adam. You take my concluding “proverb” (the last lines of “Paul’s Touch”) to point in that direction, and rightly so. I’m grateful for such a perceptive application.

      You’re right, too, about the Old Testament prophets as saints. My understanding is that 42 Old Testament figures (including all the prophets whose Biblical books bear their names) have feast days on the liturgical calendar, and especially on their proper days, each receives the title. For example, June 14 is the feast of Saint Elisha, whose relics bring about a resurrection in the first sonnet above.

      Thank you for your All Saints’ Day wishes. I had a happy one.
      I’m sorry to hear of your being “frozen in Attic vexameters” and hope you’ll gladly continue to thaw out!

      Reply
  14. Yael

    Wow Margaret, you have done it again, these are beautiful triplets! I began reading them yesterday but I had to wait for the sacred quiet hours of Shabbat when the farm work ceases, to sit down and type out my comment of appreciation. The benefit of this has been all the time I’ve had since yesterday for thinking and re-reading your beautiful sonnets plus the comments section, which has been tremendously edifying and soul nourishing. I’m one of those souls who frequently gets sufficiently distracted by inanimate matter, the dead relics of life, to the point that I can forget that the kingdom of God is based on living relationships and not material performance. I’m reminded of 1 Corinthians 8:6 where Paul says: “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
    Thank you and Shabbat shalom to you; may you always remain in His healthy channel of blessing, connected to His eternal source.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Shalom to you as well, Yael, and thank you for your appreciative observations. The verse you quote is certainly one of the most profound about the divine life giving life to all things. The fact that material relics of holiness can convey life and health to those in need is, as you say, something we forget when distracted by inanimate (soulless) matter. I’m glad the sonnets plus comments are soul nourishing. May you too abide in His healthy channel of blessing!

      Reply
  15. Margaret Coats

    Evan, let me offer special thanks for the illustration you chose. The fourth century catacomb painting accords with a special interpretation of the text for “Only the Hem.” The woman in the painting seems not to be touching a hem as we usually understand that word, but grasping a cord extending from the bottom of the garment. I think it is a fringe of a Jewish man’s prayer shawl (tallit). The tallit has a number of tzitzit or cords meant to remind one of all the commandments of God. Ideally the tallit should be worn all the time by adult male Jews, though this is not practical today. But in ancient times, a devout man, especially a recognized teacher or rabbi like Jesus, might have regularly worn such an outer garment. Therefore some Bible translations identify a “fringe” rather than a “hem” as what the woman touched. The Greek word in the original is generic for any kind of margin or border, so either “fringe” or “hem” is acceptable. It is, however, fascinating to see this early painting in Rome apparently portraying Jesus dressed in a distinctively Jewish garment.

    Reply
  16. Laura

    Margaret, I enjoyed these three poems. I often wonder what inspires you to your subjects. Is it something you hear, read, or just your mind being prompted by something you experience? None the less, the narrative comes to life and takes me along for a bit of a journey.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thanks, Laura! Choice of subject comes in varied ways. The relic of Saint Jude visiting our parish was the experience here, but I must also credit a poet friend whom I told about it. He thought relics would be an excellent subject for a poem. In order to make it of more general interest, I decided to use the three Bible passages on miracles occurring when God’s power is mediated through material things belonging to, or touched by, a holy person. The book on Saint Jude by Father Carlos Martins, custodian of the relic we saw, reminded me of them.
      Otherwise, I wouldn’t have recalled the verses in Acts about Saint Paul–which gave me that good summary couplet.

      Reply
  17. Daniel Kemper

    Nice touch.

    Connecting from Roy’s comments to Brian’s, the common motif of the slightest touch and the greatest change was my favorite feature of this trio. A fortuitous or perhaps intentional thing happens for one who is intensely interested in structure: Each sonnet, its own “token,” is like each physical, material “conveyer” (if you will) of a miracle; likewise, these “tokens” convey the sonnet “type.”

    More to say, but later~

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you, Daniel! These are indeed different kinds of story, told within the structure of different kinds of sonnet. As your insight may well be something I had not thought of, I’ll let you be the first to say more. Look forward to it when convenient for you.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.