I have no trouble at all seeing Psalms as poetry AND song. Once, the Irishman was amazed as he witnessed me write a poem in mere moments upon our hearing a cellist play. The music pulled the words from me. I still hear that theme each time I read that poem.

For me, music and poetry, while not dependent upon each other, while being entirely capable of standing alone, are yet not only compatible but are sometimes inextricable one from the other.

I can't imagine not seeing the Psalms as poetry. Nor can imagine not seeing Solomon's Song as poetry.

A dear professor of mine in college taught our Bible as Lit class. I didn't study that one with him, but we discussed it quite often. He taught the Psalms as poetry.

It is quite true in this day of cheapened, trite and predictable lyrics that one does not often see poetry that is music that is poetry. Yet that is not true of all lyrics. The music of the sixties in the heyday of Simon and Garfunkle produced some wonderful poetry set to music.

And even though I do not follow a traditional religious path, I find great beauty and depth in the Psalms and in other scripture that is profoundly moving.

Nothing else affects me that way but poetry. Hence, for me, this is poetry. My post addressed it as such. I think.

One does not have to subscribe to a certain religion or any religion in order to appreciate the poetry within that belief system.

White Rabbit did not post this to offend. Neither did he preach a sermon here. He presented a poem for consideration and discuasion. I don't believe he is trying to convert anyone.

Believe me -- there have been some pretty horrible things posted on this board that have passed for poetry and been discussed as such. Why not this?

Pagan that I am, if I can appreciate this post without calling its philosophy into question, I would think that anyone could.

Perhaps, what we need here in this discussion is not Coleridge's "willing suspension of disbelief" but a willing suspension of belief, setting aside our own prejudices about religion and our own beliefs in order to appreciate this offering today.

I could post Valiente's Charge of the Goddess -- a very different belief system from most on the board -- and yet it is poetry to me.

I read Buddhist poetry on my site. And Native American prayers on my site. Regardless of their belief system or whether I believe it is valid for me, the poetry stands as poetry.

As to music vs. poetry -- there is a website I happened upon the other day -- <link> -- that features the poetry of the Romantics -- Blake, Byron, the fun gang -- set to music.

Now it's not going to make the top 40, but it scored a few points for me. WR -- you might enjoy that.

Poetry is the most subjective art I know of -- what makes a poem a poem will always be in the eye of the beholder.

However, it can be in the ear of the listener as well. Both poetry and music stir the heart -- and for me and millions of others, the Psalms are poems, as well as song.

Angel