John Evans
In Mr. John M. Contreras' poem "Send Me" (located under the category of "mission" in our library), we have an example of iambic heptameter poetry following the rhyme scheme of AABB in two of his three stanzas, the middle one being AABBCC. Iambic poetry, the most popular usage for writers of poetry in the English language, has the stress pattern of one unaccented syllable followed by one accented one in each foot, there generally being seven feet in each line of Mr. Contreras' offering. "Send Me" provides an easy plot to follow, with, first of all, the problem presented (What to do about the crying need of the lost of this world, wailing out their heart-rending woes from across the ocean?); secondly, the Lord's answer for their need (someone with a real heart of concern to go to them with the Gospel); and, thirdly, the final realized solution (the concerned listener's conclusion that he, then, must respond himself). One is reminded of Isaiah' sixth chapter where the same format of concern is presented by the Lord, with the prophet's responding, "Here am I; send me." I liked Mr. Contreras' repeated reference to "the bounding sea" for its emphemism and onomatopoeic effect (one can almost hear the sound of the sea with use of the word "bounding.") John Contreras is to be congratulated for his poem, and we hope to see more coming from him in the months ahead for our Christian poets' webpage. We especially like to hear from you folks away out there on the West Coast.
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Send Me
One day I gazed across the bounding sea to distant shores,
My ear caught hold of something that I've never heard before,
I heard the cries of desperate souls, lost in deep despair,
The sad lament of broken lives was more than I could bear.
I raised my eyes up to the sky and cried, "My God above!
Can You not help, will you not touch them with your gracious love?"
I heard the voice of Him who sent His only son to die
Say, "I'm looking for that one whose heart will break before their cry,
That one who'll answer my command to take my love and go,
And tell them my son died for them because I love them so."
A heaviness then gripped my soul, for now I under stood,
If I would not obey the call to venture forth - who would?
Again, I looked upon that shore across the bounding sea.
With humble heart I bowed my head and said, "My Lord, send me."
John M. Contreras
Huntington Beach, California
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