A few of my favourite poet/writers:
John O’Donohue (1 January 1956–4 January 2008)
Sylvia Plath ( October 27, 1932 – February 11, 1963
Rainer Maria Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926).
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
(December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886).
Special Remembrances
There are times throughout the
year where we remember people and times that matter. I imagine certain days
come to your mind, such as the birthday of your parents, spouse, children, and
best friends. There are other special days we may hold dear, like Christmas,
Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Remembrance Day, and the like.
Perhaps there are writers you
look on with great remembrance. These are writers whom although passed from
this world, still speak, their words full of life. I pray this simple message
encourages you to remember your favorite writers.
I can’t go into detail about
each of the aforementioned writers, but please allow a few thoughts to
summarize why I hold them in remembrance.
Passionate Writers
Poems from Emily Dickinson
hold my hand as I read them. There are times her poetry also kisses my soul as
I reflect on them and soak in her expressive words. Even though most of her
poetry was published after her death, readers still benefit from her words.
I regard Sylvia Plath as a favourite
writer because I am interested in her as a person. Sylvia had her first
published poem when she was nine years old. In her earlier poetry, she wrote
about nature. Her later themes of mental illness and relationships in her
poetry give evidence of a broken soul. She took her own life in 1963 when only
thirty and her poetry touches me even today.
Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke
affects me like no other poet. I can’t explain this enough, but the way he
writes enraptures my ears and eyes, then settles deep within.
John O Donohue and I would
have been buddies if we had met. Perhaps my Celtic background caused me to
sense him as a kindred spirit. I can imagine John and I sitting in an Irish pub
enjoying fish and chips with a beer on the side. We would chat about the beauty
and spirit of poetry.
Writers who love their words
share them with the world. They have a way with words like a passionate chef
who wants to feed all those he meets.
Remembrance of Legacies
The names of famous writers I
mentioned at the beginning of this post left legacies. They live on in the
sense we still love their words. Years after their deaths, we recite their
poetry or read their stories and novels. Their legacies indicate who they were
as people. Their words are like offspring eager to please the authors and bless
the world.
Write and Keep Writing
Reading words of writers I
remember encourages me to keep writing. Reading about their lives reminds me
God can use even me, a broken vessel, to offer words of hope through my
trembling pen.
Dear writer sisters and
brothers, keep writing. Allow pen and paper to be constant companions of your
soul. You see, as you write your next short story, novel, play, poem, blog
post, or essay, you are adding to your legacy.
Please realize as you remember
writers you admire and love, God loves your words. He has given you and me a passion
for words. When we write, we express the longing of our souls.
Bless
our words, O Lord,
as
they make their way into the world.
Help
them touch hearts,
Heal
minds,
Blanket souls in love eternal.
Allow
our words, O Lord,
To
speak long after we have gone to our blessed hope.
May
they live as seeds of your love.
Alan lives in a small village called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home, where he finds inspiration for his writing. He occasionally writes articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. His website, https://scarredjoy.ca, is under construction
