Turnabout Tales

72 symmetrical poems encapsulate the lives of historical characters, as revealed in the Bible. At the center of each 7-line poem lies a semi-colon, at which the person's life makes a turn for the better, or in some cases the worse, following an encounter with God. An hour-glass icon is repeated throughout the book. Scriptural references allow for further study, and questions at the end invite a response. In the Old Testament, meet Adam, Eve, Lucifer, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Melchizedek, Lot, Hagar, Rebekah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Miriam, Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Ruth, Hannah, Samuel, David, Mephibosheth, Elijah, Elisha, Cyrus, Esther, Job, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nehemiah, Ezekiel, Shadrach, Daniel, and Jonah. New Testament: Zechariiah, Mary, Joseph, Herod, Simeon & Anna, John the Baptist, Yeshua, Peter, Levi, Madman, a 12-year-old girl, .a boy who shared, Mary Magdalene, Zacchaeus, Nicodemus, a woman at the well, a cripple, a blind man, Mary & Martha, Judas, Pilate, Stephen, an Ethiopian, Paul, Dorcas, Cornelius, Barnabas, Lydia, a Philippian jailer,
Timothy, Apollos, Felix, Onesimus, and John the beloved.. Here's the basic format for a "diamante" shaped poem:
Line 1. noun
L2. two or three word description, fact or event
L3. three verbs (ing words)
L4. two amplifying words + semi-colon + 2 "shift" words
L5. three verbs (ing words)
L6. two or three words description or development
L7. noun EXAMPLES (EACH POEM WOULD BE CENTERED ON THE PAGE FOR SYMMETRY):
Solomon
David's son
ruling, wisdom-asking, proverb-writing
temple complete; turned to idols
expanding, importing, harem-building
kingdom split
apostate
.................................................................
Esther
beauty contest
purifiying, primping, pampering
crowned queen; Haman's plot
fasting, interceding, banqueting
scepter extended
champion
................................................................
Carpenter
David's lineage
law-abiding, agonizing, pondering
Mary's state; divine assurance
shielding, marrying, refraining
earthly father
Joseph
.................................................................
Saul
Tarsus tent-maker
Christ-cursing, threatening, arresting
self-righteous Pharisee; struck blind
surrendering, corresponding, seafaring
light to the Gentiles
Paul
...............................................................
Lydia
from Thyatira
dyeing, buying, selling
purple cloth; women at river
worshipping, welcoming, talking
first European
convert
................................................................