Posted by Holly Ordway in Literary Apologetics, Podcasts | 2 Comments
Why Poetry Matters: Holly Ordway and Brad Davis at the Future C.S. Lewis College
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:14:29 — 17.0MB)
This podcast is a recording of a joint presentation that I did in June 2011 with poet Brad Davis, during the “Vacation with a Purpose” in Northfield, Massachusetts at the campus of the future C.S. Lewis College. Dr. Gayne Anacker, Vice-President of the C.S. Lewis Foundation, introduces the program, after which I speak on the subject of why poetry matters, with specific examples from the classic poets: George Herbert’s “Prayer,” John Donne’s “Batter my heart, three person’d God,” and Gerard Manley Hopkins’ “As kingfishers catch fire.” Brad Davis then follows with a reading and commentary on poems from his new book, Opening King David: Poems in Conversation with the Psalms.
Brad Davis & Holly Ordway
The lecture and reading took place in Hibbard Hall on the idyllic Northfield Campus, one of two schools founded by D.L. Moody, and recently purchased by Hobby Lobby for the C.S. Lewis Foundation, as the site of the forthcoming C.S. Lewis College. You can read more about the C.S. Lewis College here – and I encourage you to become a benefactor as well.
You can click here to open the podcast in a new window, or use the player below. Enjoy!
I enjoyed this talk. I love that poem by John Donne!
Donne’s poem reminds of that song by Dashboard Confessional. They’re not a Christian band, but their song Get Me Right is very Christian. Here’s the chorus:
But, Jesus I’ve fallen
I don’t mind the rain if
I meet my maker
I’ll meet my maker clean
But, Jesus the truth is
I’ve struggled so hard to believe
I’ll meet my maker
I’ll need my maker
To cure of my doubting blood
And drain me of the sins I love
And take from me my disbelief
I know it should come easily
But it remains inside of me
It battles and devours me
It cuddles up the side of me
And whispers it convinces me I’m
Right…