Speak to me O Lord of such things that I have never seen before
In this poem, Elizabeth Padillo Olesen explores themes of spirituality, longing, and existential uncertainty. The speaker calls out to the divine, asking to be enlightened about unseen truths. The phrase 'Speak to me O Lord of such things that I have never seen before' encapsulates a deep yearning for understanding and connection with the divine. The reference to 'the sons of perdition' suggests a struggle with faith and the consequences of spiritual failure, hinting at a broader context of biblical narratives.
The imagery of one individual standing alone 'Under the dark trees of the night' evokes feelings of isolation and desperation, as they cry out for the Lord. This contrasts with the collective lament of the Israelites, who express a desire to return to Egypt, a place of familiarity, despite its hardships. Their cry, 'If only we had died in the land of Egypt,' reveals a deep-seated fear of the unknown and a longing for the past, emphasizing the emotional weight of their situation.
The poem's emotional arc shifts from a plea for divine guidance to a recognition of loss and forgetfulness. The repetition of 'And yet' serves as a poignant reminder of the persistent struggle between hope and despair. The concluding lines, 'There is so much to lose / So much to forget,' encapsulate the tension between the desire to hold onto memories and the inevitability of change.
Craft-wise, Olesen employs free verse to convey the fluidity of thought and emotion, allowing the poem to flow organically. The use of enjambment creates a sense of urgency and continuity, drawing the reader into the speaker's contemplative journey. The final line in German, 'Wir haben uns verändert' ('We have changed'), reinforces the theme of transformation and the passage of time, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of change and loss.
Ultimately, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of seeking meaning in a world filled with uncertainty and the complexities of faith, making it a resonant piece for contemporary readers.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speak | Say | To express verbally | Speak |
| Lord | God | A title for a deity | Lord |
| never | not ever | At no time | never |
| seen | looked at | Perceived visually | seen |
| bow | bend | To show respect or submission | bow |
| greatness | great quality | The quality of being great | greatness |
| render | give | To provide or deliver | render |
| feeble | weak | Lacking strength | feeble |
| Thus | So | In this way | Thus |
| spoke | said | Past tense of speak | spoke |
| sons | children | Male offspring | sons |
| perdition | destruction | The state of being lost or doomed | perdition |
| yet | but | In spite of that | yet |
| one | single | A single unit | one |
| stood | remained | To be in an upright position | stood |
| alone | by yourself | Without others | alone |
| dark | not light | Absence of light | dark |
| trees | plants | Tall plants with a trunk | trees |
| night | dark time | The period of darkness | night |
| nothing | no thing | Not anything | nothing |
| cry | shout | To call out loudly | cry |
| aloud | loudly | In a loud voice | aloud |
| Cry | Shout | To call out loudly | Cry |
| glory | praise | Great honor or admiration | glory |
| glory. | praise. | Great honor or admiration. | glory. |
| hosts | armies | Groups of beings, often divine | hosts |
| thought | idea | A mental concept | thought |
| synthesis, | combining, | The process of combining elements | synthesis, |
| changing | altering | Making something different | changing |
| growth | development | The process of growing | growth |
| Israelites | Hebrews | The descendants of Jacob | Israelites |
| railed | complained | To express dissatisfaction | railed |
| Moses | a prophet | A key figure in the Bible | Moses |
| Aaron. | a priest. | Moses' brother and a priest. | Aaron. |
| “If | In case | Conditional phrase | “If |
| died | passed away | To cease living | died |
| land | country | A specific area of earth | land |
| Egypt,” | Egypt,” | A country in North Africa. | Egypt,” |
| whole | entire | All of something | whole |
| community | group | A social group | community |
| shouted | yelled | To call out loudly | shouted |
| them, | those people, | Referring to Moses and Aaron, | them, |
| “or | alternatively | Indicating a choice | “or |
| might | could | To be possible | might |
| die | pass away | To cease living | die |
| wilderness!” | desert!” | An uncultivated area of land. | wilderness!” |
| must | have to | To be required to | must |
| return | go back | To come back to a place | return |
| place | location | A specific area | place |
| finite | limited | Having bounds or limits | finite |
| wisdom | knowledge | The ability to make good judgments | wisdom |
| much | a lot | A large amount | much |
| lose | give up | To part with something | lose |
| forget | not remember | To fail to remember | forget |
| Wir | We | A pronoun for a group including the speaker | Wir |
| haben | have | To possess | haben |
| uns | ourselves | Referring to the speaker and others | uns |
| verändert | changed | Made different | verändert |
Elizabeth Padillo Olesen is a contemporary poet known for her spiritual and reflective poetry that often explores themes of faith, existence, and the human experience.