RWP #110 Get Your Poem On — INRI
The notion for this weeks prompt is to transliterate a poem out of something from another language. Needless to say, I am either too lazy or disinclined to try and make sense out of Foreign Language Chaos. When I was a boy, I was fascinated with the Crucifix. The image of the Savior, hanging there with his crown of thorns, loincloth, and that sign that said INRI above his head. Not being Catholic, I had no idea. I was reminded of this fascination when I read the book INRI by Raul Zurita (review here)
I took that idea, and used that single word to wrap a poem around. How would a small boy relate to that word and to the religion it was a part of.
Anyway, this is my offering for the interesting prompt offered up by Read Write Poem. You can see other offerings by checking out Episode #110 of Get Your Poem On.
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INRI
Sunday’s found INRI taunting
Billy with its mysteries
INRI conveyed something
Something needful, yet oblique
Billy hated INRI
INRI could convey LOVE
to Billy
INRI could impart LORD
to Billy
INRI could relate DEAD
to Billy
INRI meant nothing
to Billy except irritation
Billy hated INRI
Billy loved Jesus
16 Comments
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Cleverly done.
witty, and yet there is a poignant quality…I remember as a child being so confused about religion, like some “club” with secret handshakes and rituals I could not understand. This poem brought that feeling back to me.
“Billy hated INRI“
“Billy loved Jesus”
Spiritual and very interesting piece of work Mark.
Pamela
I like this a lot, particularly for the way (as Therese already noted) it separates Jesus from the institition of religion, and by making that separation, Billy makes his connection with Jesus. I love the structure of this too. It’s appears simple, but is in no way simplistic. Very nicely done.
Very interesting and provocative!
I like this so much. I like how you transliterated the four letters of INRI into other four-letter words: LOVE, LORD, DEAD. There’s a lot of long “e” or near-rhyme “ing” sounds in this poem: taunting, mysteries, something, oblique, Billy, INRI. The repetition of “something” on two lines is great. The ending is a blow to religion: how Jesus the man is not always faithfully represented by institutional symbols.
It’s a different take on the prompt, and a neat one. I like convey, impart, and relate being not the same as “mean”, as the acronym is not Jesus.
Fascinating. I’d never heard of “INRI” before.
Ah, yes! As a former Catholic, I remember the mysterious INRI well. I really enjoyed your poem–how you managed to imbue it with humor, and the point of view of a young boy.
I think this is sweet.
I can’t believe Inri Iggins didn’t rate a mention in this poem
’The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain’
di doo da dada
What an “interesting” way to sort of dodge the prompt!
Although perhaps you walked right into it, but just from a uniquely provocative sidelong way. (I’m probably just jealous some!) A very nicely performed not-litany of expressions here! Good job Mark.
Wow. I see in this how dogma and ritual present a wall to what’s real. Interesting take on the prompt. I enjoyed the read.
My (Catholic) mom explained to me what it meant when I was very young. The main impression I can remember it making on me was, “man, I wanna learn Latin!”
This is excellent, btw. ^__^
It’s really interesting the way you contrast “INRI” with “Jesus” at the poem’s conclusion. Great work.
Wow! As a Catholic, this definitely had a real impact for me. I have often contemplated those four letters too, but they never inspired hate—only love.