In the first part of their presentation, The Lichfield Poets took people on a biblical journey from Creation to Armageddon

Fable

This Obsidian Darkness,
Deeper than the Earth,
Is the place where
The Brutal Art
Of life began.
The furnace which gave
Heat to hate,
Melted love,
To a puddle of mercy,
Burnt words out of memory,
And turned life out of time,
Gilded the Golden days
And took the good in its prime.
This Obsidian Darkness
Is lit by stars which died
Years before we were born,
And it is here, where lives were
Led and turned to fable.

© Ben Macnair

The Dark Lord's Dominion

Forsake your immortal soul
now that Satan holds future and past;
his dominion is Earth, pole to pole,
from first to inglorious last.

Now that Satan holds future and past,
in Hell's sphere we are doomed to burn;
from first to inglorious last,
all compassion and pity he'll spurn.

In Hell's sphere we are doomed to burn,
as we squirm in the Dark Lord's power;
all compassion and pity he'll spurn,
when approacheth Death's hideous hour.

As we squirm in the Dark Lord's power,
who gave us this life? we shall ask;
when approacheth Death's hideous hour
and each carcass departs in a cask.

Who gave us this life? we shall ask,
who created both Heaven and Hell?
Each carcass departs in a cask -
why put us on Earth here to dwell?

Who created both Heaven and Hell?
his dominion is Earth, pole to pole.
Why put us on Earth here to dwell?
Now forsake your immortal soul.

© Jan Green

Lucifer's Venom

Eve's standing there looking oh so sweet,
Unaware I can twist her mind,
Turn her thoughts from the will of God
To those of a different kind.

I'm slier than every beast in the field,
She will succumb dear Eve;
Now she's naked and unashamed,
But soon a spell I'll weave.

Here she comes; just watch me work,
I'll wow her with my charms.
She'll be taken in by my silver tongue;
She will not be alarmed.

''This apple looks firm, ripe and juicy'
I wish that I could taste it.
Come over here my beautiful one
And try just a tiny bit.''

''One bite won't hurt; you know God is good,
He won't be angry my dear;
If you eat from the Tree of Knowledge,
There'll be nothing at all to fear.''

''In fact you'll become as wise as your God,
You'll gain virtues from on high.
You'll be kind and good with knowledge to share;
I would not tell a lie.''

It's as I said she has succumbed
And passed the fruit to him;
They've both lost immortality
For what was just a whim.

''Cover your body you foolish ones;
I'm happy with my day's work.
The Garden of Eden is barred to you now;
No longer a special perk.''

''You'll be cursed with the pain of childbirth,
Hard labour will be your friend.
Goodbye from your own sweet Lucifer;
I gave you this sorry end.''

© Janet Jenkins

Apple Tree Days

Oh dear, I shall be too late
Said the White Rabbit as it passed Alice.
Good girls go to Heaven, bad girls go everywhere,
Sang the singer of the song.
One pill to wake you up, one to stay asleep,
Said the dream to the dreamer.
The truth is out there,
Said Mulder to Scully.

Every life has its days of sunshine and rain,
Every life has its share of pleasure and pain,
And every day has its Apple Day.
Day of choice, day of change,
If you're happy and know it, clap your hands,
If you're restless and you're wanting, take a bite.

The truth, you couldn't handle the truth,
Said Jack to Tom.
We can all handle the truth,
Some of us well, some of us badly.
Some would prefer us not to,
And many would agree with them.

© Ian Ward

Don't Feel So Sorry For Eve

After he said she'd lost Eden
Eve tried to appease her man
By enduring his recriminations,
always being wrong,
slaving at the kitchen sink,
endeavouring to look alluring,
yielding her tired body to his rapacious demands,
bearing and nurturing two impossible sons.

With three ungrateful men in the house,
Eve's beauty soon faded.
Adam shuddered as her apple face wrinkled,
he spurned her stretched belly and breasts,
called her witch,
the bringer of death,
dried-out old bag.
Flaunting his peach-skinned new lover
(fashioned from his second spare rib)
he burned Eve at the stake, as a hag.

It's so hard not to feel pity.
But, for God's sake ....

Haven't we girls followed her lousy example ever since?
Accepting the blame, wallowing in guilt,
playing maids-of-all-work to men,
not minding when their muscle melts into paunch,
whilst we sweat in vain to stay young, sexy and supple?
Isn't it time we told Adam's spoilt sons
they don't have to keep biting that bloody apple?

© Jan Green

God Wants Us To Build An Ark?

Shem:
God wants us to build an ark dad?
To protect us from a flood?
But the sky is clear and blue;
The weather forecast is good.

Noah:
The world is in great danger Shem
There is no time to waste
So go and find your tools son
Don't stand there; quick make haste!

The rest of you must help as well
We must obey God's will
He's vexed with all the nations
It's them he's going to kill!

We're going to be protected
The flood will not harm us
So let us make a start my sons
Come on! No time for fuss!
. . . . . . . . . . .

Shem:
Streuth that was such hard work dad;
Talk about blood, sweat and tears!
Can we sit with our wives now
And have a couple of beers?

Noah:
It's time to get the animals;
We'll bring them on two by two.
The women can help us do that,
Then there'll be time for a brew.
. . . . . . . . . . .

Right. That's good; they're all on now ...
Yes - there's a bit of a pong,
But drink your beer and hold your nose
Let's hope it doesn't last long.

We're just in time; here comes the flood
It has such power and force!
God said that it would wreck the earth
And he was right of course.
. . . . . . . . . . .

I think the flood's now reached its peak
We must find out for certain,
We'll need a raven and a dove-
They're just behind that curtain
. . . . . . . . . . .

We sent the birds to check for land,
The dove has brought us a sign,
Soon we can leave our floating home
An olive branch means it's time.

A rainbow arcs above us all;
For a moment we stand still
To thank our Lord for helping us
To carry out His will.

© Janet Jenkins

Noah Reflects

It didn't seem unusual back then
For God to holler from above
About his disillusionment with all men;
And ordinary sinners just like you,
Their punishment was long overdue
By the time I released the dutiful dove.

No one believes my story these days,
These things just don't happen anymore.
God talks to us in other ways
I suppose, or perhaps we perceive
That he listens, if we believe.
So I wonder what we did it for,

Building that ark, forty nights and days
With those blasted animals. And how I tried
To forewarn the others, in the hope that they
Might listen, for though they sinned they knew
God's wrath, for they had seen it too.
But I somehow found grace in His eyes,

So when the world was exhumed
We had another chat, and God agreed
Never to flood the earth again, and I assumed
That was the end of it. Us God-fearing folk
Survived, but fear evolved, when God no longer spoke,
Into agnostic indifference. Or is it that we need

To be detached from transcendental things,
These days, for to admit them might expose
Our perpetually hedonistic deeds as sins?
I know God spoke to me that day,
Whatever the non-believers say.
And as for them, Heaven only knows.

As time passes by and indifference grows
The flood lives on in folklore, a wake-up call
Long since forgotten. But as dry land shows
I'll never forget the sight of that dove
Returning, for what endured of us was love
Extended from Heaven, available to us all.

© Steph Lunn

Old Testament Blues

It started with old Abraham
who didn't kill his son,
then Joseph had some weird dreams;
for Pharaoh this was done.

Egypt's slaves, the Israelites
by Moses were led out
and given ten commandments
to purge them of all doubt.

For forty years they roamed around,
then Jericho they smashed.
In Promised Land they settled down;
God's will had come to pass.

And in the years that followed, they
fought many a deadly battle.
Ruled over by wise Judges,
they raised both corn and cattle.

Now Sampson, he was mighty 'til
Delilah cut his hair,
yet still he brought the temple down
and slew all who were there.

Young David slew Goliath bold
and so became a king,
but Solomon strayed from the fold
- or so the psalms do sing.

First Israel, then Judah fell;
their armies all were battered.
And to the land of Babylon
their people all were scattered.

And prophets came, and prophets went
and miracles were wrought;
and though the Hebrews did come home,
one thing they always sought.

Foretold it was that one day soon
a mighty king must come.
'Messiah' they would know him as
and he would be God's son!

© Brian Asbury

Out of the Light

A young girl once stood by a crystal fountain
She sang of her heart's delight
She dreamed she saw an angel
Who came out of the light.

Reflected in the shimmering water
She could see the angel's face
She tasted the refreshing wet spray
Which filled her with joy and grace.

When she heard the angel speaking
Out of the light the voice came
Out of the light the words were spoken
And the angel said her name.

"The holy ghost would come upon thee"
Out of the light the angel said
That she had been chosen above all women
Out of the light and touched her head.

He would be born the Son of God
Out of the light he would surely come
The maiden then knew she'd been chosen
By God to bear his son.

Out of the light the angel smiled
And said her son would become a king
And would rule on the Throne of David
And her heart began to sing.

Out of the light the angel appeared
Departing in a golden flame
Reflected in a young girl's eyes
And the world was never the same.

© Jan Arnold

Joseph's Doubt

"An Angel of the Lord, you say?"
"Strange news indeed." Joseph looks away

What ploy is this?
Is he a fool to feed with lies?
But, Mary's gaze is resolute, she holds the Truth within her eyes

"The Son of God, you say? What wondrous joy!" Joseph has to smile

He understands, although betrothed, he's old, she's young, she's known no man
And as for him ... ... it's been a while

"Ah, Gabriel." A name at last." He left, you say? Well that's just fine!"
Joseph's angry now
"I'd like a son, of course I would……but this will be no son of mine!"

Mary weeps, but through her tears Joseph hears her joy,
"My soul proclaims His greatness, the greatness of the Lord
And I shall bear the Son of God, according to his Word!"

"I need to think" So Joseph leaves, he wants a quiet life
For weeks, he works and sleeps and dreams
He could be blessed with son and wife

Mary visits family, Elizabeth -some miles away,
With child and with a lot to say,
"How leaps the child within my womb, blessed be the Son of God,
Come Mary kneel and let us pray."

Mary prays for angels ...

Joseph seeks a resolution
Divorce is on his mind, it can be done informally
He doesn't want to be unkind
Praying for divine solution, breath of angels fills his mind

He speaks again as Mary smiles,
"What's done is done, behold my wife, there is a way"
Joseph smiles and Mary speaks, her words rise up, upon the wind
"An Angel of the Lord, you say. Strange news indeed"
She looks away

"I spoke with Gabriel, it's true, I dreamed of him - he spoke of you". Joseph smiles
Mary's gaze is resolute, her faith holds firm and she exclaims, "So Thy Will be done!"
She will be beloved wife and Joseph will acquire a son

Joseph smiles, thinking of future angels,
Somewhere Gabriel sighs...it was hell there for a moment

And as Joseph takes her to him, Mary closes her eyes and thinks of Angels ...
... and of the Divine Gabriel

© Clare Charlesworth

Birth and Aftermath

Satan came and took me by the hand,
We stood on a hill overlooking the land,
Below, Royal David's city,
A city of cattle sheds and shepherds
A city of wise men and poor carpenters.

Today is the day
Unto us a child is born,
Today is the day,
Unto us the gift of a false dawn.

The hopes and fears
Of all the years
Are met in him tonight.
A child of power,
A power to transform,
To transform the world,
From a cauldron of creativity,
To a bare plain of peace.

Satan wept in anger and despair,
Satan swore in passion and pride,
He would not surrender
God would see no white flag

© Ian Ward

Slaughter of the Innocents

There is no excuse for killing the Children.
Two thousand years in the Diaspora
Is no excuse for this.
Two thousand years in the Diaspora, Seeds the terror of being forever homeless
Two thousand years of wandering
Breeds the drive for a weary rest
At least at home.

In the Promised Land, yet,
There is no excuse for killing the children.
Horror and dread of being beaten into the sea
Of being blotted from the face of the earth,
Of facing the threat of ceasing to be
Is no excuse for killing the Children.

Yet, I can see, that if this were me,
The sheer fear of the idea of being
Eternally stateless.
Forever again at the mercy
Of reluctant merciless landlords
I also might be tempted to fight
To keep a little piece of promised land
To call my own and my descendants own
Could I then, too, find
Excuse for killing the Children?

© Tessa Lowe

A Mother's Grief

Pull back the curtain on my grief
bring me out of this land of darkness,
a land where the dry dust of the desert
blows a blood-red mist of hatred,
bringing slaughter to innocent children;
lives sacrificed on the altar of powerful jealousy.

Now before me suspended on a cross
the body of my son, my beautiful son.
His life hanging on a spiritual line
drawn taut across the leaden sky,
balanced between Heaven and Hell.

Body broken and wracked with pain,
he cries, begging forgiveness for his enemies,
But I weep bitter salt-laden tears,
as his life ebbs away,

He goes to reign on his father's throne,
wearing not a crown made from gifted gold,
but a circlet of thorns that tear his flesh.

Who will remember my son?
Will you remember my son?
Who will say a Kaddish for my son?
Will you say a prayer for my son?

© Marjorie Neilson

From Garden to Garden

Did the moon ever shine on Eden,
or was there always joyous sunshine?
falling over the fertile land
alighting upon the Tree of Knowledge.
Where whispered words from evil lips
brought disobedience,
to those who ate the innocent apple,
a fruit that hides within its core,
the sign of a star,
the sign of a cross.

Did the sun ever shine on Gethsemane,
or did the moon with its silvery light?
cast only dark and brooding shadows,
between the olive trees.
Where poisonous words once,
slid silently through the spaces,
and a bounty of silver pieces,
brought betrayal.
to the One born under,
the sign of a star.
his death on a cross

© Marjorie Neilson

Wondrous Light

And there was light.
A voice that said 'I have returned'.
We looked at him, and looked again.
And all we could see was light.

We had known light.
And words that shook the world.
We had known hope of salvation.
But darkness came and took the light.

Renewed now, light.
And brightness such as ne'er before shone.
Such as we'd never thought to see again.
A radiance that transcended light.

He gave us light.
Banished our grief, brought forth new hope;
Assured us of eternal love.
We lived anew beneath that light.

He rose in light,
Merging into brilliant sky.
And we remaining on this Earth
Knew we would one day share that light.

Now came new light:
His shining essence filled our souls.
And so we wander through this world
To spread to all this wondrous light.

© Brian Asbury

Armageddon

The one last perfect day had dawned,
Months of negotiation had led to this day,
The world had prayed through those months,
Rules of engagement, location, army size.

Across the world other armies of people,
Stood ready to fight and die,
For none trusted the devil to keep his promise,
Soldiers, tanks, planes, missiles,
Armed with every mechanical and Supernatural
Device known to mankind
The world watched in Faith, in Hope and in Love.

As the sun glinted off the shiny steel and chrome,
Satan roared and led the Forces of Hell forward,
Metal stood and strived,
As only metal could.

Through the day machines died,
As twisted broken lumps they lay,
A sea of oil flooded the land,
Until at night the hordes of Hell lay prostrate.

As the light of day faded,
The light of Heaven shone,
God and his host descended,
Raised up were the weary, the dead and the dying,
The army then ascended to Heaven,
The people were left behind.

Satan smiled, for he had been promised,
The Earth and the soulless wretches left behind.

© Ian Ward

At this point the poets moved on to The Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Virtues

	Covetousness
	Envy
	Greed
	Pride
	Sloth
	Wrath

A Virtuous life

Is it fair to fight for Peace
or force the truth from Liars?
Can we ever understand Envy
without first wallowing in Desires?

Happiness is inverse to
degrees of Sadness we feel;
Gluttony's Greed means nothing
if you've never missed a meal.

Sloth is just the space between
the many things we do;
Excess, not pious Abstinence, gives birth to Lust, it's true.


Sweet Charity is at her best
When given and received,
And Honesty seems worthless
Unless you've been Deceived.

Faith alone is dim and dull,
But Courage makes it bright;
And Hope is lost unless it's shared
With the dwellers of darkest night.

Justice cannot work alone
And must apply to all;
Through Pride we learn Humility,
Which tends to follow a fall.

There is no single form to Love,
A loving heart can free or bind;
But Kindness is a soothing art
When Anger lurks within the mind.

When Ambrose espoused Plato's Scheme,
Cardinal Theology he knew so well,
One question lingered in his mind -
Could Heaven exist without a Hell?

The choice is ours most freely given
by God's most Wondrous Son.
There's just one question left to ask -
is a Sin-free life a Virtuous one?

© Clare Charlesworth

When Pride Takes a Fall

"He has his own Jumbo jet and a helicopter too
And a Congress and Senate he can tell what to do
He's the master as far as any eye can see,
And George W has invited ME round for Tea.

.... well it wasn't tea actually, more a burger and a bun
Telling me that I was his very special one
Together we would rule the Free Western World
That "George and Tone" banner would gloriously unfurl.

He was still concerned about the French and Chirac
He's trouble I tell you, he even rhymes with Iraq"
George boasted how he had won friends over with ease
Sri Lanka, Honduras and maybe Belize"

"And how about your doubters, the Cabinet and Opposition
You know the right medicine, but are you the right Physician?
When Great men do Great things, when a Higher Duty Calls
Does my smooth British buddy have some big Texan balls? Can you iron out the wrinkles, make things a little glossier?
Perhaps make adjustments to our Top Secret dossier? "
"He has his own Jumbo jet and a helicopter too
And a Congress and Senate he can tell what to do
He's the master as far as any eye can see,
And George W has invited ME round for Tea.

.... well it wasn't tea actually, more a burger and a bun
Telling me that I was his very special one
Together we would rule the Free Western World
That "George and Tone" banner would gloriously unfurl.

He was still concerned about the French and Chirac
He's trouble I tell you, he even rhymes with Iraq"
George boasted how he had won friends over with ease
Sri Lanka, Honduras and maybe Belize"

"And how about your doubters, the Cabinet and Opposition
You know the right medicine, but are you the right Physician?
When Great men do Great things, when a Higher Duty Calls
Does my smooth British buddy have some big Texan balls?
Can you iron out the wrinkles, make things a little glossier?
Perhaps make adjustments to our Top Secret dossier? "

George Senior couldn't do it, but George Junior can
Saddam today, and tomorrow Iran.
"Do you want power Tony, to soar with the eagles?
Do you want power Tony, we can settle the Legals?
The UN will kow-tow, whatever their talk
Or why would we pay for them to twitter in New York?
Don't bother yourself with things right and wrong
Our people will follow their brave Leaders song"

Destiny and fame burn phosphorously bright
"Tone and George", history, famously tight.
Freedom and Justice was all that they said,
Paid for by soldiers and a Nations dead.
Scoffing at doubters, the soft they deride
Tattered, defeated, the victims of Pride.

© Gary Longden

Borrowers and Money Lenders

The Road to Hell is paved,
With the souls of the dispossessed,
Those who lost, when they sought to gain,
Those who thought they knew how to twist
The rules of the game.

The Road out of Hell is paved,
With big dreams kept small,
With humanity placed before commerce,
With people being less impressed by the size of wallet,
And more impressed by the size of a heart.

Borrowers do not seek to borrow
More than you already have,
Do not swap happiness for sorrow,
Just because it might impress someone
You have never met.

Money Lenders, do not think that you
Will be rewarded by money,
When you have all that you deserve.

© Ben Macnair

The Parliamentarian

I came to be an MP for all the right reasons
Expenses claims for all the seasons
Second homes, bookcases, a cashmere coat
With taxpayers cleaning my extensive moat
I want to milk the system but play to the rules
Whilst I laugh at all you proletarian fools
This is my main home.
Now it's there.
Now it's not.
How else do I pay for a luxurious yacht?
Fraud, cheating, manipulating, stealing some say
But the Parliamentary Fees Office says it's OK.
This bear pit howling is just hysteria
Does any-one else have problems with their Wisteria?
Please call in the police, and call for the Beak
What else should happen to those who leak?
Mortgage payments are not something of which I am afraid
Especially when the debt has already been paid
I want to indulge, I want to make profits
We have the Speaker in our silk lined pockets.
Plugs,
and dog food,
and massage chairs
Are all essential items for our Parliamentary Affairs?
Of course we'll sort things out - new codes? We'll make them
With the utmost care - and self-regulation.

© Gary Longden

Flashing the Plastic

God I feel fed up; I need to go and shop
I have to flash the plastic and spend until I drop.

I'm really so depressed I need to buy some shoes-
Red with six inch heels, I just can't wait to choose.

Good, I have the shoes I chose a stunning pair,
I'll strut my stuff in these, pose and toss my hair.

A designer bag is next; it's Gucci for me
Stylish and labelled for all around to see.

I have to have a dress; I've got nothing to wear.
I'll need new make-up and products for my hair

I'll visit Stefan's Salon and get myself tanned,
I can't look pale and boring, invisible and bland.

First I'll have a coffee or a large glass of wine,
Drool over purchases and know they're all mine.

You might think I'm greedy, but that's not the case
I just love shopping; it puts a smile on my face!

© Janet Jenkins

Our Just Deserts

If I wallow in pride and forget those around,
I'll be broken on a wheel and my bones will be ground!

If I envy my friends and all that they do,
I'll be thrown into water icy and blue!

If I desire food and gorge 'til I ache,
I'll be forced fed to rats, toads and snakes!

If I lust after men I'll face brimstone and fire
Shouting ''God damn them all!'' and ''Curse my desire!

If I rage at others and scream and fight,
I'll be dismembered alive; not a pretty sight!

If I covet wealth and greed is my God,
I'll be boiled alive when the devil nods!

If I lounge around and sloth is my friend,
I'll be thrown in with snakes and crushed as they bend

© Janet Jenkins




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