Durk Willems

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Wed, 14 Apr 2021
  • 2828 reads
13 comments
 

 (died 16 May 1569)

In jail not for robbery or death,
but for simple belief and faith
– a godly man, no vice
but not willing to be forced to say
‘yes’ to the popular religious way,

One day he escaped,
and crossed the thin ice
chased by the guard
(whose weight
not on prison rations
was heavier),
he heard a ‘Help’ cry
– the guard had fallen through
– what would the fleer do?
would he leave his pursuer to die?
Oh, no, a true follower of Jesus, he
turned back to rescue,
sacrificially.

So captured again, but
the  guard endeavoured
to have him released
but others insisted:

he was burnt at the stake
in a slow-burning fire
as they couldn’t shake
his faith in his God
nor force him to pretend,
and parrot
what he did not
and could not
believe.

Certificate U
Poem
Christian, Biblical
Biography

Comments

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Thaniks for this bit of history, Rhiannonw.  Enjoyed your take on it. I'm liking old Durk. Such harsh times..

Rich

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Rich. I'm glad I managed to precis this moving story. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

Such a powerful story and such passion in your words, Rhiannon.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, glad that came over. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

That is a terrible story. I looked it up after reading your poemm, you tell it really well.

Cannot  understand how a Faith which started out so free it was not even written down, became a religion so rigid that it was thought a good thing to burn people if they questioned things irrelevent to the central ideal of love for others being love for God

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I think the answer is that any beliefs can be thought of as things to insist on conformity and obedience, and there is little or no reality in it then, the heart and mind are blind and the will serving self, not God or Christ, and bringing in a dictatorship to be obeyed in all, even insisting on parotting acquiescence. And some go along with it in fear

But today we have beliefs trying to insist that no-one disagrees, or explain why they disgree, as they are so sure they are right, and want to dominate, allow no free speech, and insist on agreement even if it is empty of real acceptance.

Of course the words of Jesus were written down very soon, but people don't always read them properly, or pick and choose and don't understand them all!

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Ewan on

as you probably know, Rhiannon, but I think spirituality is something we all need, and others' beliefs are something we should take account of, or at least allow, in the spirit of "live and let live".
Don't know if you know The Strawbs (vaguely folky chaps from the dim and distant)? Anyway, this song is as powerful as your poem.
 

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Ewan. No, I hadn't heard the song, and glad to read/hear it. The tendency to try to force people to say they follow a religion or secular belief is ever present, sometimes it comes from one view, sometimes from another, but true faith will have good fruit, and can't deny its Saviour. The phrase 'learning how to fawn' was telling. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cherries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jessiibear on

What a concise retelling. I agree with others: passionate, sad, inspiring. You've so expertly woven the tale, capturing relevant details and emotions. You did them justice here. The emotions came, for me, in waves. Like colours, such a beautiful painting of the past. Excellent portrayal, well done. 

Jess

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you! I'm so glad you found it so, and thank you for telling me. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

What a wonderful story-poem. It is so sad, and so very true.

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jean. Very moving.Rhiannon