“For now we see through a glass, darkly…”

Posted on 2021-11-16 by Bartholomew Barker

“For now we see through a glass, darkly…”

Paul wrote that to the Corinthians in Koine Greek,
a language I don’t know, so I can’t comment
on whether it should be translated as “mirror” or “glass”.

But as a poet, I object to adverbs.
English is such a greedy language,
there’s always a more precise verb

ready for work like a day laborer.
Why wait anxiously for a job
when you can fret or fuss?

Why knock loudly
when I can pound
on your door?

Why pester mercilessly
when you can badger
someone until they break?

I don’t agree with most of Paul
but that chapter has some good poetry—
worthy of weddings.

He just needed to bring it to a workshop
so we could get rid of that adverb,
seriously.

(For a mirror prompt and a glass, pound, badger prompt.)

Unknown's avatar

About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
This entry was posted in Poetry and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

11 Responses to “For now we see through a glass, darkly…”

  1. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2021-11-16 at 23:34

    Now I gotta do some reading. Plus a laugh. Good work!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2021-11-17 at 02:55

    haha, I hope Paul takes your advice and join the workshop =)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. ts19page's avatar ts19page says:
    2021-11-17 at 07:39

    Certainly, surely, evenly distributed modifier-ly adjusted verbs are baroquely attired, like periwigs, lace collars, velvet knee breeches and gilt curlicues, all those curvy cherubim!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  4. Pingback: The Apostles’ Writing Workshop – a Parable – ….Bilocalalia….

  5. Rehoboth's avatar Rehoboth Organic Farms says:
    2021-11-27 at 22:28

    Thanks for your time🙏

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Karima Hoisan's avatar Karima Hoisan says:
    2021-12-13 at 21:25

    I admire how you developed this prompt and made me think of my own frivolous use of adverbs

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to Bartholomew Barker Cancel reply