My God, my muse, my protector – v4 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history

Hearing Taras speaking, breathing,
“My God, my muse, my protector”,
seeing God in his writing, infusing,
His feeling that God has forsaken him,
His wrestling with God in his misery,
but cleaving to God as well, his center,
his beating heart, God as his strength…
 
Wicking the Word into his writing, scripture,
ancient law, promises, and the closeness of God
speaking warning, God’s judgment on them,
bringing these ancient words into his speaking,
His crying out to his people, his brethren,
to not fall into the trap of the ancients, Israel,
to heed the lessons, to trust more fully in God…
 
An ongoing monologue, central to his calling,
wisdom within him, imparted, giving,
longing, feeling God gifting him words…
to hear His voice ever more clearly, urgently,
walking right beside him, hearing God’s call,
a separate vision, a whispering mission, purpose,
breathing, speaking to him constantly, evermore…
 
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Edited December 1, 2025
My God, my muse, my protector – v4
 
 
My poem, “My god, my muse, my protector” is a way of recognizing Shevchenko’s very personal wrestling with God in his misery, praising God through his gifts, warning his people through scripture, especially with prophetic voices, and recognizing God’s protection through his trials in life. As a poor serf as a child or as an imprisoned poet and artist Shevchenko cleaved to God, he knew the presence of God, he cried out to God. He judged his oppressors, the oppressors of his people through scripture and he chastened his people through scripture as well.
 
His poem about Mary makes us look more deeply at the way we read scripture, and his poems rising from the prophets, or speaking of our blindness before the Spirit, challenge how we approach the word. His dreams, his words, were replete with the poor man’s love of God, the need for God, and the trust in God. And, especially, he spoke to God as his muse and his protector. I know that I feel the same way all the time.
 
Edited January 11, 2025
My God, my muse, my protector – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/01/my-god-my-muse-my-protector-v3.html
Edited December 8, 2024
My God, my muse, my protector – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/my-god-my-muse-my-protector-v2.html
December 3, 2024
My God, my muse, my protector
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/my-god-my-muse-my-protector.html
Edited November 26, 2024
Listen to the Prophet – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/listen-to-prophet-v3.html
after poem, “Listen to the Prophet”,
based on the poem, “Hosea, Chapter XIV”,
by Taras Shevchenko
&
November 4, 2024
A song of Mary – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/a-song-of-mary-v2.html
after poem, “A song of Mary”,
based on the poem, “Mary”,
by Taras Shevchenko
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 202 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, Ukraine, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, victory, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, freedom, independence, history, glory, pain, serfdom, muse, prison,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history