{"product_id":"so-i-wrote-you-a-poem-poems-of-empathy-on-life-loss-and-faith-9780648989349","title":"So I Wrote You a Poem: poems of empathy on life, loss and faith","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn January 2021, Instagram followers were invited to message author David Tensen with a life story they wanted made into a poem. More than 60 people wrote in with stories spanning divorce, loss, trauma, parenting, ableism, same-sex attraction, suicide, PTSD, parenting, religious shame and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing from deep empathy, and with a desire to give dignity and voice to those often shamed and ostracised, David wrote a collection of poems every day for twenty-one days. This special collection of 25 poems is a tribute to the common loss and hope we all share.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is David's second poetry collection. His best-selling debut 2020 collection, 'The Wrestle', is also available worldwide\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe following is a poem from the collection. It features in the chapter, 'On Marriage': \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFOR THE ONE WHO WAS BETRAYED\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e(To the betrayer)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThere is a tree by our home\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ethat fell in a storm\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eon the path\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI walked to belonging.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI assumed this was our path, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eand perhaps it was, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ebut the storm -\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ethat was your betrayal.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTorn from the earth.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBranches broken.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLeaves strewn like confetti\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eon our wedding day.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRoots, now exposed, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eshamefully waving at passers-by, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eremind me\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eof what was sown in secret.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrunk, now splintered, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003epiercing those who dare to pry, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eremind me\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eof your unrepentant reasoning.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI've been tempted, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003emore than once, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eto nest in the wreckage\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ebut you won't find me there.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInstead, I'll be in the forest\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eforging new paths\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ethrough forgiveness\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eand a fog of grief, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003evowing to love myself\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003emore than you ever did.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDavid Tensen \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTensen, David:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Australian poet David Tensen brings form and beauty to our deep spiritual yearnings. Drawing from decades of experience in pastoral care and spiritual development, his poems have found their way into hearts of every age across the globe. Raw, honest, accessible and prophetic, David's writings both uncover pain and bring healing to it.","brand":"St Macrina Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50922706632978,"sku":"9780648989349","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_8951aee0-7a24-402d-9edb-5d1eff8efde0.jpg?v=1738937968","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/so-i-wrote-you-a-poem-poems-of-empathy-on-life-loss-and-faith-9780648989349","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}