1. Read the poem 

  2. Do your own reflection on it, noting what it inspires in you

  3. Feel free to use your own reflection as your prompt or…

  4. Use the selection of prompts below the poem

  5. Pick one that inspires you and write (feel free to use only one or write several poems using different prompts) or…

  6. Don’t use any of the provided prompts and follow your inspiration from wherever it comes

Miracles

I need to witness miracles today—
A river turned to blood, 
water become wine, 
a burning coal touching the prophets lips, 
black ravens swooping down 
to bring a starving man bread and meat, 
a poor fisherman raising the dead! 
I’ve heard theologians say 
this is not the age of miracles, 
but still, I’m easy to impress. 
I don’t need to climb out of the boat 
and walk on water; I just like 
to put my head on the pillow 
while the storm is still rages, and rest.

—Richard Jones

Please join Writing From The Inside Out by attending the read-around sessions on Friday afternoons. It’s free, fun, a great way to share, and reading a poem is optional. If you have not registered, click the button below; and if you have registered, you do not need to register again, simply use the link sent to you in your confirmation email. Register Here:

Note: Next Read Around is: Sep 17, 2021 at 4:00 PM PST
No read arounds on Sep 3 or 10.

My Thoughts

The opening line of Richard Jones’ poem, Miracles, declares a need to witness miracles and gives it the weight of a plea. He goes on to list a few “biblical” examples and then thwarts our expectations by telling us theologians say this is not the age of miracles. Yet every day news reports another catastrophe, a worsening disaster, a terrible tragedy. If ever there was a need to witness a miracle, this is the time. The collective angst that seems to surround us daily feels to me a bit like a plea for a miracle, for some divine intelligence to come set it all right. Jones’ poem suggests taking the shackles of grandeur off of our criteria for the miraculous. Perhaps, given all that is happening in our world, it is miracle to simply put one’s head to the pillow and actually be able to rest while the world rages.

To learn more about Richard Jones, go to:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/richard-jones

Prompt Menu

  1. What miracles have you witnessed or experienced. Journal or write about such an experience. If you don’tfeel you have, write about that.

  2. Imagined a miracle that would set things right for you in your life or in the world? What form would that miracle take? A person? An experience? A healing? A world changed in some way?

  3. Consider descriptions of miracles from literature or other sources and use one as inspiration for journaling or writing. Imagine you are the witness or imagine you are the miracle and describe the event. 

  4. The word miracle comes from the Latin root meaning “remarkable and wonderful” or" “to wonder” and can be reduced furter to a basic root meaning “to look at” (which is where mirror comes from). Journal or write about the experience of looking with wonder at some thing or being steeped in wonder about an experience or event.

  5. Write about everyday miracles. Little things that we might miss in the course of the day, little synchronicities, small joys, or tiny unexpcted or surprising delights.

  6. Journal or write about a miraculous power would you like to have.

  7. As usual, right about anything else from the poem or from life that inspires you.