Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Emergent Village

Home
Progressive Christian
Perspective

Perspective

Last updated on: March 13, 2012 at 2:13 pm by Victoria Peterson-Hilleque

Perspective 2012-03-13T14:13:07-05:00 Victoria Peterson-Hilleque

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I wrote this poem in an attempt to explore the life of Bathsheba. I wondered what it might feel like to experience challenging events in her life. When my friend Kathy Smith read the poem at a gathering last week at my church, Solomon’s Porch, she pointed out that when stories from the Bible are told from the perspective of women, the narrative sounds quite different.

Bathsheba

I. Bathing

night air scented
lavender and rose
massage my neck
rub my hands
along my thighs
my husband will not be home
anytime soon
close my eyes
smell him near
see his eyes shine
for me imagine
his hands
everywhere

II. Summons

first time inside
the palace
veiled
unknown I watch
the servants barely
notice me
washed and oiled roughly
dressed in jewels
worth more
than everything I have
I begin to understand
why I am here

David seems smaller
kinder than I thought
my body opens
to his kisses
betrays me again
and again with pleasure
I could be killed for this mutiny
in my mind strange
hands everywhere

III. Return

thrust
into my clothes
thrust
into the street
find my way
home alone
by the fire
refuse food
refuse bathing
refuse everything I can
the stench
of him remains
punish this body

IV. Pregnancy

strip
burn clothes
bathe
take bread
wine
begin to live
as betrayer
another body
shapes itself in me
as if a miracle
occurred

V. Husband

I long to tell him everything
even though he
will be wild with war

wait by the fire
all night
two nights
he never comes

does he know

VI. Death

bite my tongue
see if I can feel

watched every moment
I am not quick
or strong enough
to strip off this life

death scooped out
my insides
buried them with him
Uriah
I am only skin
and hair wrapped
around air
and the child

VII. Queen

loathing is dangerous
I’ll make my first
decree to end the war
in me who
is the enemy
his shame
his longing
mirror mine

oh Uriah
do not watch what I do

everything about the king
begs forgiveness
except his mouth
occupied on the mound
of our son

VIII. Fever

sack
ashes
we pray
this small tangle
of blankets
his body
hangs on him
like thin bags of sand
each day we wait
shuffles
whispers
a kingdom
holds
its breath

IX. Burial

why not
take me
why punish
innocence
his future
once spread
along my mind now burned
before his time
there is not enough
room in me
for so much sorrow

X. Birth

will this one
also
be taken

or may his name
Solomon
save him

XI. Coronation

Who would have thought
this body
loved
adulterous
abandoned
would bring one king
into it
bring another
king out

a nation once teetered
at my breasts

Uncategorized

Previous Post

March 8, 2012

Atheists Promoting Bible Study?

Next Post

March 14, 2012 Why We Can’t Win In Afghanistan by Randy Woodley

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Addiction Advent Atheism Authority Bible Cartoons Christian Year Christmas church church planting Civil Rights Community Contemplative Spirituality Culture emerging church Empire Eschatology Evangelism Events Gender Healing Humanism Islam Justice Kingdom Lent Movement Building Multi-Faith Music mysticism New Wave Emergence origins Personal Poetry politics Prayer Preaching Privilege Racism Religious naturalism Resurrection salvation SKEPTIMERGENT Theology Trauma Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2017 November 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I appeared to Paul on the Damascus road as a blinding light. I spoke to him and changed his life forever. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Holy Spirit Jesus An angel God the Father