Prophetic Poetics

I can’t help but call your attention to the prophetic role that poetry can play, particularly today. I was unfamiliar with Kate Tempest, but Jonny Baker’s post included a video of one of her performance pieces, and I have to agree with him that she is brilliant. Jonny’s reflexions are also well worth reading and considering. If poetry is as prophetic as he points out (and I believe it), then why is there little room for poetry in churches? Might it be because the prophetic is also wild and confrontational by design? It affronts our sensibilities, particularly when it is freighted with truth. Kate Tempest’s whisper that we must awake would be more appropriate shouted from the rooftops, except for the fact that the whisper often travels more quickly to the heart.

Consider it, friends. Read Jonny’s post and watch Kate Tempest in action.