”Altars Built In Poetry”: A Stunning Book and Hearty Endorsement
I am not a poetry guy. At all. Other than Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven,” and the contributions of our very own staff on this website (especially Benjamin Plunkett), I wouldn’t say I’d been a fan of any poem. Poetry has always seemed harder to interpret than most creative writing, and as such has been more intimidating.
But that changed when I read Payton Golightly’s Altars Built in Poetry. To say I was astounded by this series of poems covering just over 100 pages would be an understatement. I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but with the author being so young (20 years old) and raised by parents in church ministry and fiercely dedicated to Christ., it was not this.
I was deeply moved–even visibly shaken–by the content numerous times. I had to put the book down twice before coming back to it later. Both in “Part One: The Dark,” the first half of the book. Even with that, this poetry was so engrossing I finished it in under a day.
I was not prepared for the raw, seemingly unfiltered thoughts about anxiety, lust, and suicide this poetry speaks to. Yet, I adore the risk and courage it took to publish this. I passionately respect every word in this book. I know Payton’s dad, but not her. Yet I was foolish to think because of her context, she would write in a safe, “Sunday School” type way. She did the opposite and as a result, I could not endorse others buying and reading this more fervently.
This is the kind of thing Christians need to be writing (even if some choose not to publish or share) and we absolutely need to be reading. Life is dark at times. Sin snares even the strongest people of faith. Christians at times avoid these realities or at best throw cliches at them. Adults of my age can easily assume “good church kids” don’t understand these topics, even as they enter college. That would be a terrible assumption. Based just on these writings, Payton understands some of life’s harsh realities as well as I do. Or better.
Though edifying for everyone, I pray especially young Christians who feel and succumb to the weight of picture-perfect Christianity encounter these poems. And find Truth. And hope.
Here is something special about the use of poetry as well: I had a college professor, Dr. Darrell Holley, who said that “teaching is acting”. After 22 years of preaching at church and many years teaching English to adult immigrants, I get this. When I preach and teach, I come alive in ways I do not otherwise. It’s almost like putting on a show. It may sound fake but it’s the exact opposite. It’s quite real.
That’s how I feel about this poetry. Payton could have written in prose or just given this info in public verbal testimony. But by choosing this style of writing, it packs a punch. It comes alive in a way I do not think it would have otherwise.
I wouldn’t consider myself a critic of this genre but I will share one stanza that stuck to me in particular as well done, comparing how God sees us vs. how men (literally men in romantic settings even) see us as our physical self:
Don’t let them tell you to change
Don’t listen to the lies
You’re beautifully made
And perfect in his eyes
He knit you together
And called you good
So you should know
He never lies when He calls you
Beautiful
Poignant!
I’ll close with two important aspects to the book to me. First, in Part Two: The Light, she answers the harshness of Part One with biblical truth about who God is and who we are as a result. But she also simply talks about less intense things in life that do bring light. For example, one poem just goes through the calendar month by month, finding joy in all twelve of them. And others about long-distance friendship and scrapbooking.
But secondly, and finally, I celebrate the fact that she focuses strongly not just on thoughts like “God created you so you are beautiful” from the Bible. But also the suffering death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because that is the good news. And without that, the darkness from the first half of the book wins.
This whole reading experience was one of the most sobering things I’ve done in a while. I am surely a better pastor and Christian for it. And if I had to guess, I will be a better parent in the long run because of it. I will unequivocally be less naive.
And just two days ago I’d never have believed poetry could do that to me.
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