Poiema

Description

Poiema is an album by the American singer and songwriter Michael Card, released on Sparrow Records in ‎1994.

He’s been recognized as a biblical scholar, celebrated as an author and honored as both a performer and songwriter – all impressive accomplishments, to be sure – but it’s first and foremost his songwriting skills which continue to astound us. Even though Michael would likely dismiss the notion of being tagged “better” or “best”, there are simply very few Christian music composers in his league. Card’s economy as a writer and earnestness as a vocalist have helped a large audience gain more knowledge of Scripture through his multi-part explorations of the Bible.

“Poiema” (which translates from the Greek as “poem”), refers to the Apostle Paul’s Ephesians 2:10 statement that “We are God’s materpieces” or “workmanship”. Another Scripture which Card calls to mind is 2 Corinthians 3:3, where the apostle refers to us as God’s “living epistles,” with our lives constantly being re-written as a new poem to the Lord each day – the closer we listen, the better our chances of discerning God’s direction.

The opening theme song, «The Poem of Your Life», begins with the profound statement “Life is a song we must sing with our days.” Over an arrangement rich with traditional Celtic instruments such as bodhran (hand drum) and Uillean (elbow) pipes, Card refers to “The pain and the longing/ The joy and the moments of light” as being “The free verse of the poem of life.” (On other words, nothing’s set in stone; all the events of our lives, both the momentous and mundane, are constantly in a state of change). «The Basin and the Towel» talks about Christ’s example of service through the act of washing his disciples’ feet; Card allows as how we must live that parable by being such examples in our own communities. Often, reminds Michael, it’s as humbling to be served as to bow in service to a friend. «Things We Leave Behind» encourages us to cut ourselves loose from possessions and earthly demands, in order to be able to better serve Christ. Again, Card isn’t didactic or judgmental; he simply wants to help us examine our own lives as God has motivated Michael to examine his. Besides examining his Celtic heritage through the music, Card dedicates one instrumental track to an Irish craftsman who honored Card with a hand-made guitar; in «The Greening of Belfast», Michael issues a reminder to us to pray for the continuing strife in Northern Ireland.

This is, perhaps, Michael’s most personal album to date, and includes three songs that speak intimately of his family life. In «Home» (which has been a Card concert favorite for over a decade), Michael draws parallels between the comfort and security his earthly home and family offers, and the fact that his home “is just heaven’s reflection.” «For F.F.B.» is a moving tribute to Card’s grandfather, a mountain preacher who exuded immeasurable influence on Card; the album closes with «Sunrise of Your Smile», a loving ballad for Michael’s son Will, which finds the proud papa looking on as his boy discovers more of the wonders of the world has in store. That’s an appropriate metaphore for how our heavenly Father sees us, and a fitting final verse for this thoroughly enjoyable “poem” whose merits will be even more appreciated with time. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, December 1994]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/poiema/724940250)

CD tracklist:

01. The Poem Of Your Life – 3:02
02. The Basin And The Towel – 3:59
03. Things We Leave Behind – 4:12
04. Earthly Perfect Harmony – 2:59
05. Home – 3:35
06. Lowden’s Prayer – 2:36
07. The Poem Of Your Life (Reprise) – 1:28
08. The Edge – 5:47
09. Hope – 3:24
10. Bearers Of The Light – 3:56
11. The Greening Of Belfast – 4:26
12. For F. F. B. – 3:50
13. Sunrise Of Your Smile – 4:12

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Sparrow Records.