The lament developed along with heroic poetry and is found in every culture. Examples include Deor's Lament, an early Anglo-Saxon poem in which a minstrel regrets his change of status in relation to his patron, and the ancient Sumerian Lament for the Destruction of Ur, which complains of the abandonment of the Sumerian cities and temples by the deities.
A lament is a poetic expression of sorrow, discouragement or anger after experiencing a loss. The next poem is a lament in the tradition of the Psalms, that is, it is addressed to God from a heart of faith.
Lament
I walk in the valley overshadowed
By death
And I am scared.
I call out to you
But I don’t feel your Presence.
I need a hug, God.
Where are you?
I ask for forgiveness
But it seems distant,
Like you, Lord.
Grant a sign to show you love me!
After 1000 falls
Lift me up!
Why do you not hear me, Lord?
--Jordan Romain (Grade 8)
1 comment:
WOW!
This piece is so right on to what I often feel that it actually made this old man cry.
I read it aloud and it tore me up and gave comfort at the same time.
Jordan, If an 8th grader can speak with such maturity of such universal yearnings, I can't even imagine what will emerge in you in a few decades.
ed
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