Poetry  and Other Artistic Writings such as Stories T. Buckingham Thomas physics Oberlin WOBC Richwood Tom Thomas Chyron Infinit Pittsburgh I wrote most of the following articles, but several of them quote other writers. To search for specific names or events that might be listed elsewhere, click the icon to bring up a Google search box.  Replace ql in the search box with the word or words you seek.    ° An altar bursts into flame?  Somebody set it on fire.  A lame man takes a few steps?  He already had that ability.  A woman who has been unable to conceive finally does so?  This sort of thing happens every day. When Biblical writers tell these stories, they attribute the “miracles” to divine intervention.  However, I tend to suspect that there may be other explanations that rely less on the supernatural.  So I decided to retell the stories my way. Here's my list, in Bible order.  Most of the tales are told pseudepigraphically in the first person, but the green backgrounds indicate interviews by the fictional Brother Billy on his “IT'S IN THE BIBLE” talk show. Let Us Make Man A god foolishly starts creating things. Breath of Life Brother Billy believes life begins at conception.  Better-informed scholars disagree. The Yahwist Source An interview with the first Biblical author about her bedtime stories. A Promise in the Clouds A wine-loving megalomaniac saves his family. Elroy Was Here To a patriarch's household, he was an angel. A Family of Cheaters Tamar tricks Judah into giving her a son. Sixteen Tuns Debt bondage among brickmakers in ancient Egypt and in present-day south Asia. °The Burning Bush Aaron's magician helps him speak for God. Escaping the Pi-hahiroth Trap How could Moses lead the Israelites across the 200-mile-wide Red Sea?  An eyewitness explains. Cheerleading Affects the Outcome The Israelites will win the battle if Moses can keep his magic staff raised. The Seven Commandments   Moses loses his temper and destroys the Ten, so God writes a new set. °Nun's Tale A son destroys dad's livelihood and plots genocide. Eli An old priest has troubles with his boys. Witchcraft A woman has to summon a dead man's spirit. The Princess Who can marry the king's daughter?  A valiant warrior with a bag of severed body parts. Raising the Widow's Son Fatherless family takes in homeless beggar. °Obadiah During a drought, prophets are killed. Multiplying Miracles A prophet is recalled in recycled (and gory) tales. Nineveh Jonah tells a tall tale about a whale. Solomon Redner The pessimistic author of Ecclesiastes is interviewed. The Jig Is Up Daniel exposes lying judges and fake gods. The Nova   Astrologers investigate a regime change foretold by a new star. Cana For my first illusion, see these water jars? Jumping to Conclusions Fishermen convince themselves that Jesus is God. Like a Good Neighbor A story about one who represents the good: Sam. Simon of Shimron Jesus's younger brother thinks he's crazy. Pastoral Visit Davina's mother-in-law is cured by tenderness and love. It Looks Like Him How Jesus apparently restored a blind man's sight. °Transfiguration Jesus turns on his disciples. Entombed Lazarus rehearses Jesus's resurrection. Cleaning House Should the Temple precincts be non-profit? The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved John refers obliquely to Jesus's romantic partner. The Great Grave Robbery Nicodemus's bribe leads to Caesar's decree. Temporary Tomb Joseph of Arimathea tells his story. Communicating with Departed Loved Ones The message: "Don't despair.  Let it be." Emmaus On Easter, two despondent disciples meet a man. Doubting Thomas Did a ghost appear in a locked room? The Old Mann and the Sea A prescient suggestion inspires fishermen.  The Beautiful Gate A disabled man's job is disrupted by do-gooders. Talking with Paul An interview with the famous letter-writer, a confirmed bachelor. Q Visits a Corinthian Q's stories about the Sermon on the Mount are rejected by an early Christian convert. Fleshing Out Jesus Mark's gospel gives life to Paul's preaching. Crossed Messages One Gospel says Jesus was born of a woman; another says he descended from Heaven. Mark vs Luke The first evangelist accuses the second of depicting Jesus as excessively meek and mild. In One Hour Has Thy Judgment Come Revelation and Pliny the Younger each describe the destruction of Pompeii. Tucksey Can someone be good without God's guidance?  An opinionated Southerner weighs in. 100 When You're In Rome ...wear a toga! 1590 8 and 6 "A Midsummer Night's Dream" characters discuss how many syllables should be in a proper prologue. 1720 Heavenly Flowers from His Thorns Johann Sebastian Bach sets St. John's passion narrative to music, with added commentary. 1820 The Book of Elmo Elmo Hale's somewhat sketchy brother-in-law puts his face into a hat and discovers Mormon scripture therein. 1870 Beware the Jabberwock What is a slithy tove, anyway?  And where can you watch the submarine races? 1890 All Minds are Little Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  And a God.  And you're going to heaven. . 1900 Under the Talcott Tree John Prindle Scott's serenade. 1930 The Gold Fields Out in Nome Irving Berlin adapts one of his 1918 songs for Kate Smith to sing on the radio. . 1950 °A Mother's Garden in a New Land My mother's poem about learning again how to garden on the windy plains of Richwood, Ohio. . 1960 Bumm Dum Tillium Nonsense lyrics for a Beethoven piece played on a speeded-up piano. °Vernon Thomas at the Richwood Fair A local poet guests on my father's radio program from the fair. °Antihymeneal Hymns Parody songs against marriage (and feminism), from an unproduced musical. Moon through the Night As chairman of the Decoration Committe, I plan for the Junior-Senior Prom and write a melancholy poem. I Do Not Need a Cure A song disclaiming the "cure for life," with music by Haydn. °Rain in November Outside Richwood High School, a gloomy night. °To a Staple A little parable. Bill Doodle Set to the music of a Brahms rhapsody, the story of a young man who willingly puts himself in harm's way. °Playing with Words A family in a rut, a very long sentence, and songs about thwarted cheerleaders and noble underdogs at Richwood High School. Prom May, 1965:  some impressions. Sing, Sing a Song Of sixpence, of cities, but especially of colleges. °A Freshman Crush At college, I'm dazzled by a friendly princess.  Yet I am not worthy. Rev. Wagner's Cake A comic song for a going-away party. °The Parable of the Lady and the Cat A shy, longing student's blank verse. The Prophetess I get inside her head, in two languages.  She may not want me there. Need It Be Said? A song for a character who cannot believe. The Silent Dark A poem about my parents' nighttime journey to hear me on the radio. Promonius and Constanes Two Shakespearian types contemplate the impending Commencement of the Class of 1968. Item Four Unable to love, I nevertheless pen a sonnet. °Three Bad Dreams Versifying my nightmares. 1970 Letters from Jan: Readjustment We exchange poems about her love life.  She breathes one note; I suggest a melody might be more effective. Can You Repeat That? I recall two comic roles, including one in which my voice broke appropriately, plus a couple of vocalists from the 1990s. °The Songs of Linda Dramatizing a true story from my past — a story of love gone bad. On Your Wooden Anniversary Choosing a sufficiently animated gift. Great Songs of Broadway Listen to me play the piano for my parents, recorded live to eight-track tape. . 1990 Love the One You're With A tale of a new puppy and a resentful cat. Fleeing the Storm A "quiet" week on Lake Pontchartrain. . 2000 °Requiem From 19th-century music, some words for those who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Verse Is Where You Find It Others' prose about chilling out. Add Drama A few ideas for enlivening traditional performances. °Smilin' Through Maybe Mel Brooks and I once had the same book on the music racks of our respective pianos.  °Zoey and the Zekoonies A little girl and her grandfather discuss whether dogs go to heaven. We Are Not Crooks I dream of Nixon, resulting in a short story. °To Boil a Frog A horrific drive down a hill. 2010 It Ain't Us, Babe Congressman, it ain't me you're workin' for, babe. Add More Drama! At church, an old hymn becomes a dialogue; Woody Guthrie declares our land is his land too. Word Gone Missing Karen Gillan appears in the otherwise true tale of my search for an affa word. 2020 Found Haikus Sentences that just happen to have 17 syllables can sometimes be viewed as poetry. The Hill We Climb Amanda Gorman's 2021 poem at the Inaugural.   Abalone, anemone, albacore — what's the word I want? Albaugh:  "Play like we are beautiful and brave" Amanda Gorman:  "Being American is ... how we repair it" Amazing Soap America the Beautiful, above the enameled plain Are you okay?  I haven't heard from you lately Art elicits reactions from animals "Because" sung by Perry Como and nine Sara Niemietzes Beethoven's "Ode to Freedom"? Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song" cartooned Benchley tries to doze on a train Bended knees are bent "Bespoke" apparently means "spoken for" Chevrolet celebrated in an old-timey song Christians translate the Hebrew poetry of Job Classic rock and holiday classics never fade away Come to the fair, heigh-ho! Coventry Carol's "little tiny child" isn't Jesus Dante meets Beatrice, the love of his life Dark curtain descends across continent Demons, in a 1597 book by Jimmy Stuart, inspire witch mania Dixieland-style piano in a minor key Doggie sings backup on an old song Durante, Jimmy, knew how to sing Snowman, Frosty the Dylan:  "I'm just a song-and-dance man" "Eek" in Chaucer and Shakespeare means "also" Evanier passes 25,000 posts Fortuna!  O let me use thy 4-4-7 meter George's guitar gently weeps over the coming disaster "God Bless America" written and revised and premiered Grammys are fading because we prefer older music Hair opens at a theater I'd visited How it'd be to have a famous face, and how not to fix the problem "Jingle Bells" and other songs of romance are for February Land ain't sure, mount do! Latin joke Leap-year kid, now 21, is not an adult; has had only five birthdays Ludwig van Beethoven's sneaky start to his Symphony #9 Magnets can't attract silver, according to Gilbert & Sullivan "Me and Bobby McGee" broke up; freedom!  (= nothin' left to lose) Melanie, singer (flourished 1970-72) Melanie and the candles in the rain Mendelssohn's "Paulus" is essentially Bach Meter of "You Really Got Me" is something original Moon shines over our high school prom Mormon names for "Alizabeth" and her kids Musical instructions are often in Italian My economically ravaged home National Anthem was to Anacreon in Heaven Nellie Bly's accomplishments, and Stephen Foster's "Nelly Bly" "O thus be it ever" verse from the National Anthem Organ keys mysteriously play themselves Palin-dromes illustrated Partridge?  Pear tree?  Perdrix? "Peter Pan" is just an actor and can't possibly fly up off the stage, right? Prix fixe? Repeating the same phrase aids memory Repeating the same word is avoided in English writing Rhymes:  "Hey Jude" Rhymes:  Inexact Rhymes:  Inventive Romeo, wherefore art thou?  That is, why? "Saming" and "truthing" can be verbs Silent Night's 1818 introductory homily imagined Smauggy days desolated L.A. — what, that's not the meaning? "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a strange title, Nirvana Songs from the 1890's remembered Songs from the 1960's learned late:  "Soul Man," "Angel of the Morning" Sonnet: "Exasperating Janet," to a "truant" fellow student Sonnet: "The ICE Colossus,” after Emma Lazarus "Splicing" as a synonym for marrying "Stopping by Woods," condensed Synthetic A's in the concert hall Taylor Swift has all of the current Top 10 songs The dying of the light Theme songs for horse races and ball drops are very old THISISASEASYASONETWOTHREE Understanding opera (i.e., the words) "Update the poor Image, before it gets grumpy!" Versions of literary works, including Shakespeare Women join the Philharmonic and, in fact, form a majority Yacht dispatched!  (Does that rhyme?)

FROM 1964: Far sweeter than the wailing of this age, Discordant noise to which we twist and rock, Rings forth old music from the yellowed page: The songs of Schubert and the fugues of Bach.