Poetry Information

The Valley Of Pain


We were exiled from the Garden of Eden.
Its sinless wonders nevermore to regain.
So every man on life's toilsome journey,
Must enter the valley of pain.

We don't enter because of desire
And it's certainly not a voluntary fare.
But, rather, it's a matter of destiny
Compelling and forcing us there.

Eden's garden; its beauty so magnificent,
Can't be reclaimed; it is a lost paradise.
Trees of knowledge and life gone forever,
We are now paying consequences price.

The valley of pain is bleak and lonely,
And all heartache must be suffered alone.
The petty and trite ceases to matter.
When facing hurt as never before known.

In pain's valley, no restaurants exist.
Shopping malls can't be found anywhere.
There's no joy to be had from entertainment.
There are no parks, for it is no picnic there.

There are no banks in the valley of pain,
No theaters, no lounges, no beach.
In this valley, we have no lofty aspirations,
Surviving the only goal we hope to reach.

Pain's valley in not a poor man's haven;
We'll find no comfort, or ease or rest.
Nor will we encounter family or friends
For this valley is one's own personal test.

Bitter anguish is experienced in this valley,
A site of conflict on a titanic scale.
A place of failing and spiritual torture,
Of deficiency and interminable travail.

When we enter the valley of pain,
We no longer worry about unpaid bills.
We don't fret about outstanding car notes,
We don't care about acquiring new skills.

When we enter the valley of pain,
We don't dabble in vain vanity.
For this valley inevitably drives us,
To the very brink of human sanity.

When we enter the valley of pain
Family prayer just will not do.
Praying in the church is insufficient,
And social prayer is inadequate too.

We must find our own secret hideaway
Close the door to the world and all its strife.
We must surrender ourselves to our God
And let Him work a miracle in our life.

Saundra L. Washington is the author of two coffee table books: "Negative Disturbances, Homilies that Teach," and the book from which this poem is taken, "Room Beneath the Snow, Poems that Preach." She can be contacted at: http://www.clergyservices4u.org


MORE RESOURCES:

Poetry: 'I Am not White'
San Antonio Express
He is a member of the Alamo Area Poets Association, the San Antonio Poets Association and the Poetry Society of Texas. His chapbook "A Year in South Texas" ...

and more »


Slam poet jumps at chance for subdued poetry
San Francisco Examiner
25, he and several contemporaries will hold a more subdued poetry reading from noon to 6 pm at Gallery 28 in North Beach. How did you assemble the poets for ...



Poetry for lunch
San Francisco Chronicle (blog)
"I'm not sure what it means when the rugby coach is reading poetry to poetry afficionados,'' Clark said. "My Irish ancestors had a saying: 'Give it a lash,' ...
Lunch Poems series starts with rugby coach, French professor, among othersUC Berkeley

all 2 news articles »


Poetry reading with Nikki Giovanni
Gainesville Sun
Giovanni hopes to teach — and learn — during a poetry reading at 7 pm Thursday at College of Central Florida as part of the Debra Vazquez Memorial Poetry ...

and more »


New York Times

Young Man Seeks Poetry in World War II's Ruins
New York Times
Mr. Swift is a young British book critic, and when I first spied the subtitle of his book (“The Poetry of a Lost Pilot's War”), I got a sinking feeling. ...

and more »


Hampl's 'Big Time' kicks off Fitzgerald Theater's Centennial Season
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Lenfestey, a former editorial writer for the Star Tribune, has written poetry, reviews, essays and articles. He has published six collections of poetry. ...

and more »


New South Dakota poetry anthology debuts at Festival of Books
Sioux Falls Argus Leader
A new South Dakota poetry anthology will debut at the South Dakota Festival of Books, September 24-26, at the Holiday Inn City Centre in downtown Sioux ...

and more »


Poetry Slam Will Be Part Of First Poverty Bay Arts Festival Sept. 25th
The Waterland Blog (blog)
A Poetry Slam will be held as part of the first annual Poverty Bay Arts Festival from Noon – 3pm on Saturday, Sept. 25th at Auntie Irene's. ...



SantaCruz.com

George Hitchcock, poet and publisher of literary magazine kayak, dies at 96
Kansas City Star
"George was part of that rupturing of this almost neoclassical dam that had stopped American poetry. I would say kayak returned American poetry to its ...
George Hitchcock, Jorge-of-all-tradesSantaCruz.com

all 16 news articles »


George Hitchcock, Kayak Magazine Founder, Dies at 96
New York Times
George Hitchcock, whose poetry magazine, Kayak, born in the cultural ferment of the 1960s, was one of the most distinctive, eagerly read ...


Google News

home | site map
© 2006