A Scripture Meditation Poem: Augusto Boal - Theatre of the Oppressed

Awake O Sleeper: A Scripture Meditation Poem
Claudia Hill Duffee, MA
January 7, 2009 (Edit 9/14/2010)

O generous God,
You invite us to life,
and give us the gift
of ourselves.

Awake O sleeper,
rise from death

put away empty things
you use to fill your time,
to flood your space,
to steal your place
as part of the human “race.”

Awake O sleeper,
rise from a living death

yes, you are alive
yet numb inside
you dull the pain
in many ways
you use empty things
to fill your time
to cramp your space
to numb your mind.

Awake O sleeper,
and arise from the dead ¹,

you let events
confuse your mind,
stealing time
and your space
then you forget your place -
your assigned part
in this “human race.” Yes…
God gave you a responsibility
a mission, a job to do.

Awake O sleeper,
rise from the living dead,

lift up your head,
sort out your brain
so you can think -
once again.

Breathe slowly in,
grace and life begin.
Breathe forcefully out,
all the junk and doubt.

Break out!
Be free! O Lord
be pleased to deliver
me^.2

O generous God,
You invite us to life,
and give us the gift
of ourselves.

1 Ephesians 5:13-15 (Amplified Bible) 13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.
14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.
15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people).

2 Psalm 40:13 (King James Version) Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

NOTE: This poem can function as a prayer or can illustrate a lecture, sermon, or speech encouraging people to wake up and to focus on pursuing truth and God’s presence in their lives.

The poem can be used as a statement of warning regarding the bombardment of cultural influences that promote external control today over our lives by exerting its “worldly” influence via many cultural forms. Augusto Boal, in his book The Theatre of the Oppressed, warns us of this pedagogy in use today that results in cultural apathy using principles found in Aristotle’s Poetics. (Boal, 2008). Boal shows these methods using entertainment for control of power by establishing oppressive cultural norms. Unfortunately this classical format for narrative is used today in all forms of multi-media for entertainment and education and is especially powerfully in keeping the general population “asleep” and unaware of current and potential events.
(Boal, Augusto, Theatre of the Oppressed, London: Pluto Press, 2008.)

Blue Tassels

Tsitsit Tzitzit {tsee-tseeth'}

Living with the depression
flowing all around me
is difficult...
and I can clearly see

all of the displaced,
misplaced,
undercurrents
of anger -
the waves
fueling depression...
fed from underlying hurt...
violence beneath-
held back – pushed
into a hidden place

- compassionate LOVE
is the counterforce -
divinely received...

Breathe deeply…
soar on the updrafts
of God’s breath -
...float upon His Holy
Spirit’s current, the wind...

and remember His blue cord
tassel - a connection, a link
a reminder of His word
that says He will never let
a man-made adder’s trap
catch a righteous woman or man.

September 10, 2010 – Claudia Duffee

Numbers 15:37-41 (New International Version)

Tassels on Garments
7 The LORD said to Moses, 38 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them:

'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. 41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.'

"The message of the tassel was: I am linked to the Lord God. Just like the blue sapphire pavement around the throne of God (Exodus 24:10) - I am linked to Heaven. I belong to the Lord - not to this world. http://www.eliyah.com/tassels.html

Forgiveness

Today - September 8, 2010
Rosh Hashanah – Ten Days of Awe – Yom Kippur

"May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."
Claudia Hill Duffee, MA

Forgiveness… what is this?
- a way out of the mess
- a way out of strife
where we have lived
in our lives far too long?

Forgiveness… can we forget,
the slights
that we perceivein our lives,
that come at us
much too fast,
and much too strong?

Yes, but what about “our” rights?

Forgiveness… can we let go
of the past,
to unclasp,
and then,
can we really
gasp the fresh

new air?

Forgiveness…
can we avoid
the snare
of unhealthy fruit?
Can we let go of
bitter roots?

Rosh Hashanah -
begins ten days,
can we focus -
will we pray -
for all the hurtful ways

we find in life?

Will we really take the time?

Ten Days of Awe -
can we seek;
will we become
strong - or weak,
as we meditate,
and contemplate,
to start anew,
forgiven, fresh,
this new year?

Forgiveness…
as God’s servants,

we will see;

as pray-ers,
we will with certain
meet,

the errors,
from the ways
of others sins.

Must we pay
for “their” price…
for all the wrongs
they’ve brought to lives?
And then must we make
amends - to try
once again
to live in peace?

Now… let’s remember when
Daniel stood in the gap,
and offered to take the rap
for his ancestors’
shortcomings,
blindness, poor

decisions, and

deaf ears.

Think again
how Daniel prayed,
and how he grasped
his nation’s lack
from years of careless living,

harsh words spoken,
not freely giving,
laws forgotten,
no Sabbath living - and
yet he asked
from his God - help
for them.

Forgiveness…
can we ask
for changed ways?
Can we ask
for another day,
for an extra chance
to live new ways
to try again?

Forgiveness… Yes -
we can,
begin again,
as neighbors
and as friends,Yes -
we can,
forgive again.

Notes: The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur
are commonly known as the Days of Awe or the Days of Repentance
- a time for serious introspection to consider the sins of the previous year and repent.

One of the ongoing themes of the Days of Awe is the concept that G-d
has "books" that he writes our names in, writing down who will live
and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life,
for the next year. These books are written in on Rosh Hashanah,
but our actions during the Days of Awe can alter G-d's decree.
The actions that change the decree are "teshuvah, tefilah and tzedakah,"
repentance, prayer, good deeds (usually, charity).

These "books" are sealed on Yom Kippur.
This concept of writing in books is the source of the common greeting
during this time is "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."

Thomas Merton Poem, ‘First Lesson About Man’

Thomas Merton Poem, ‘First Lesson About Man’

Go to this site to listen to this poem while seeing a collection of surrealist art - and comment on your impression of this poem's reflection of Thomas Merton's spirituality.

slight-existential ponderings, surreal-tinged verse are a few words used to describe this poem...

First Line: Man begins in zoology He is the saddest animal
The Collected Poems of Thomas Merton, p. 264

http://www.abstractreality.biz/2010/03/thomas-merton-first-lesson-about-man/

Looking foreward to your comments
A Poet Seeks

A Favorite Thomas Merton Poem

Let's get started...

I want you to share with us a favorite poem of Thomas Merton's
and to tell us what you see as the reflection of his spirituality in the poem. Let us know the approximate year he wrote it if you can.

If you want to simply include the poem's title, that would be welcomed.
If you can include the poem's text or a link to its location on a web site that would also be welcomed.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Poetry and Spirituality Starts Talking - April 2010

Monday, April 26, 2010

Hello and Welcome to my blog!

My intention is to talk together about how poems and poets speak spiritually... today and historically. I want to take a look together, to see how spirit is reflected, held, and shared in our "word-containers"...

What do you see, or believe you see behind a poet's words?
What spiritual essence is speaking out through a particular poem?

I would like to start talking about Thomas Merton's poetry because I need your opinions and shared experiences for a class I am taking and for a paper I am writing.

Later I want to talk about your poetry as well as about how other poets and the poetry reflect the spirit.

But let's start with Thomas Merton. This week I will be "immersed in Merton" and I appreciate your waiting to talk about other poetry.

Looking forward