One thing I love about writing poetry is attempting to get inside the head of a character – explore their thoughts and feelings from a specific point-of-view.
Those who know their Christian bible may recognize some allusion to the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18-19 where he has debunked (and slaughtered) Ahab & Jezebel’s prophets of Baal. Then flees for his life into the wilderness.
So much of Elijah’s story is about unquestioning devotion and service to god. But the only real insight we get into the enormous toll of this commitment on Elijah, the man, is when he lays under a broom bush (juniper) and prays that he might die.
That really struck me.
This poem, this prayer, came from that thought – what else might have gone through Elijah’s mind as he lay under that juniper wishing to die? Would he perhaps wonder about all he sacrificed in service to god without ever knowing earthly, mortal love?
Writ larger, I wonder in our own lives if we cannot relate to Elijah’s imagined point-of-view in this poem. How much do we give for others, never to receive anything in return? What is the cost? How necessary is mortal love to our fulfilment? Is god’s love alone enough?
Some deep questions – grounded wholly in opinion and faith. Keep it civil, please. I would love to hear your Comments below on that topic… and how the poem may have affected those thoughts.
-PS Conway ☘ ☘ ☘

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whisper me to sleep
o, lord, i am weary
lay me down in juniper
whisper me to sleep
the blood of false prophets flows in waves down
the Kishon, and a welcome rain washes
the slaughter to sea
my blood runs cold, i am alone again,
a servant in the cheerless company of
widows and angels
a ghost among ghosts, past my prime, my time
for earthly love shall not transpire, for who
would kiss a shadow?
but for just one kiss, a tender embrace,
a flush in my face to know life was more than
sacrifice and strife
yet, thy will be done, ease my yoke, let me
awake in your loving arms, precious Father,
the one true love i’ve known
o, lord, i am weary
lay me down in juniper
whisper me to sleep
So much to think about…the emotion in lines, “But for just one kiss…sacrifice and strife,” really touched me…
Love hearing it, PS! Thank you so much. Cheers 🙏🍷🌹
Authors of scripture too often removed the humanity from their characters, replacing it with demi-god heroics and affect. Thank you for returning Elijah to us.
What a wonderful thing to say. Thanks so much, John. 🙏🍷
Seems to me, that he’s haunted by his guilty conscious
Thanks, Liz! Love this take on it! Cheers 🙏🍷🌹