Poetry is as much about honesty as it is about emotion and form. For a poem to “work” it must carry within it some truth…of life, of love, of sorrow, of death, of faith, and on and on. The same goes for fiction. No matter how extraordinary the trappings of the tale may be, we can buy into it so long as there is enough truth within it for us to latch onto and compare or contrast with our own story. So if you read a poem about Greek gods, a setting that goes against your own faith views—or, apart from that, is just more fantasy than you would care to entertain—you might still find yourself drawn into the feeling of the fates conspiring against you, or how difficult dealing with family can be or any other truth that is part and parcel of that particular poem. It isn’t the gods or the fantastical setting that speaks truth to you, in that case, but the truth of strife within a family.
I bring this up because I realized as I was putting together the material that would one day become I Am A Broken House that some of the people who share my Christian faith may take exception to some of my word usage. Poetry can be difficult enough for some people to wrap their brains around, but throw them a word they’re personally uncomfortable with and you might as well not bother.
I know all the usual arguments, of course, and for the most part I agree that coarse language should be avoided. In fact, I seldom use coarse language unless quoting someone. But when it comes to my writing, it isn’t likely that every character in my fiction or each subject of my poetry will be as straight-laced as I am.
For instance, in the poem “The Liar” I create a specific image of the Whore of Babylon as mentioned in the book of Revelations. Now, I could’ve used the word “whore” in the piece—even in the title—and some folks would’ve been fine with the word usage because it was Biblical. But being that obvious is no fun. I want people to think. So I use each line and stanza to build the idea of the whore and the danger of her. The phrase “her god’s a phallic idol that she worships on her knees” is meant to denote the behavior one would expect from a whore, yet I imagine it sticks in the craw of some readers.
The word “phallic” reappears in “Damaged Goods” along with another word that makes some uncomfortable. The term “cock” appears because it is a term the subject of the poem would likely use without hesitation. In order to paint her picture—a picture of sinful obsession…of free will gone awry…of brokenness that doesn’t know it needs repair—I use harsh words to help the reader visualize a harsh reality.
So why write about the Whore of Babylon in the first place? Why write about a person as desperate and lost in her own vices as the woman in “Damaged Goods?” Because we’re all that woman. We’re all—each one of us—that whore. We’re all damaged and broken and hopeless—thus, our need for a Savior. If we could put ourselves together and make something good out of the mess of our lives, we wouldn’t need His intervention. But we do. So, every now and again, I may use a coarse word in a poem for the express purpose of making you uncomfortable. I want you to shift a bit in your seat. I want for your collar to seem a bit too tight. I want you to be reminded of your own sorry state. Why? Because you’re either still in that state and need to see past the whitewashing so many wear like medals of war…or you’ve already been sanctified from that state and need to recall the grace and mercy you’ve already received that you might give thanks for it.
Fiction is a bit different. A work of fiction is, by its very nature, a made up story. As I said previously, however, care must be taken to make its underpinnings very real. There must be a layer of truth in the tale no matter how unreal the other elements of the story may be. If I were to write about a killer for hire, I have to be true to the character. One who murders other people for money is not likely shy about using all the words that might make you and I cringe a bit. I will certainly write about characters of sound morality. I will likely write about some characters that share my faith and how that faith affects their lives. But I’ll also write about darker things. Why? Because we know what light is from having experienced darkness. We know more about darkness from having experienced the marvelous light.
Why not just write stories about good people, Jeff? Why write stories about people who are morally questionable? Well, dear reader, my answer is a simple one. I write about imperfect people because I live in a world filled with them. To write only about characters who share my faith and my morality would be like an artist painting only with blues or only reds. You may end up with a portrait, but not one that truly represents the way the subject looks in real life.
So, I’ll continue to write as honestly as I know how… and not just with honesty about the subject matter or the types of characters I write…but also a personal honesty about my own shortcomings and potential failures. Poems like “Bury Me In Familiar Things,” “Her Satin Lips On Which I Rest,” and “Beautiful Stranger” are examples of this author exposing his own weaknesses and temptations…laying bare all the traps I fear falling into. We are all, as I said, that whore. Not one of us is without scars and fractures.
Ultimately, it’s what we make of our broken houses that matters most and I know of a great Carpenter who can do wonders with even the shoddiest of homes. You’ll find that He takes His own sweet time, but He does the job to unparalleled perfection. And when, at last, He has finished His work in us, our broken houses will have been made mansions so fine all the Trumps of the world will be jealous.
In the present, though, my floors are still bare. There’s a hole or two in the walls where He’s ripped out some plumbing and dry rot in more places than I care to count. The water heater doesn’t always work and the light bulbs flicker every time there’s a strong wind. It’s still a mess, but He’s working on it. So, when you visit my work, dear readers, please excuse the mess. Pardon me for the uncomfortable words or thoughts that might be lying about. They’ll be swept up and done away with long before the Open House. The Carpenter has given His word.
J
