From the prospective of the wayward artist conscripted to bring forth the self-determined article of creative expression, the experience seemed comparable to being suddenly caught in the inertia of an unyielding undertow while gleefully frolicking, knee deep, through unsuspicious surf.  Once captured by the spell of blossoming symbolism, all efforts to escape were futile - like struggling in quicksand.  The prenatal duration of the poem spanned nearly seven months, and efforts to either circumvent the intrinsic course of emergence or completely abort the development only served to perpetuate the poem’s determination to fully manifest itself.   Once completed, the imagery of Remnant Rose had become distantly removed from the initial ideas and inclinations that had prompted the notion to write the poem.

 

During the late spring of 2006, Hope (aka Hopey), the muse from Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was a new employee at the local plasma-donation center - a frequently accessed resource for additional income to support a would-be vagabond, starving artist, and half-dead poet lifestyle.  Hope’s most distinguishing characteristics were a length of hair reaching her calves as well as an aura of charismatic glow.  Her well refined manners appeared far out of place among the shabby-looking and profane souls generally associated with the donation center.   She was obviously very religious in a highly traditional sense.  Hope eventually revealed that she was a member of the Texas Road Church of Christ in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  The term “Texas Road” became immediately associated with the “Texas Rose” symbol which had been adopted as a personal icon more than twenty years earlier.   Needless to say, the symbolism associated with the name Texas Road Church of Christ was the factor that started the dominos falling and ultimately led to the conception of Remnant Rose.

 

After several weeks of contemplating the essential array of symbolism that would eventually lead to Remnant Rose, the analogies and complexities that were being generated in connection with the notion to develop the poem became somewhat annoying and distracting.  The thought of scrapping the poem was tempting.  However, the interest in writing a poem associated with Texas Road Church of Christ had already been conveyed to Hope, and she was expecting something.  The whole Idea of writing the poem seemed like a pretty big monkey on the back.   Therefore, in order to get free from the burden, an inspiring little poem about Hope and the “Texas Road” was written specifically for her and presented along with a yellow rose and a hand-made card in the form of a sign glued to a stick - i.e. the “Hi Hope” cartoon figure shown above. 

 

Presenting the poem, card, and yellow-rose to Hope was an awkward occurrence, but the creative drive and seemingly wayward dynamics of the discourse appeared to have been satisfied.   However over the next several days, the phrases “Heroes for Hope,” Hope Heroes," "Hopey Rose," and "Hopi Rose"  arose, and during sleep, profound dreams began occurring in connection with the initial inclination to write the poem.  The notion to continue contemplating the symbolism became stronger and seemed important as well as unhealthy, mentally.  Therefore, a phone call was made to discuss the situation with Garner Pool who was the Pentecostal Reverend at Faith Miracle Revival Center in Poteau, Oklahoma.

 

As soon as mention was made to Brother Pool about Texas Road Church of Christ, he immediately responded with a comment indicating his plan to attend a revival service, that very night, at the Church of God in Christ on Texas Road, about a half mile away from Texas Road Church of Christ.   Brother Pool's invitation to meet him at the revival was naturally accepted.  However, there was nothing that could actually be discussed about the synchronicities associated with the inclination to write Remnant Rose.  As Brother Pool concurred, there’s only the prospect of increased faith and obedience amid the mysterious and peculiar workings of the “Holy Ghost.” 

 

Surely the unanticipated visit with Brother Pool was an encouragement, and during the few months that followed, Remnant Rose fervently percolated on the back burner before finally culminating to completed form, during the closing days of 2006.  Even to the present day, more than eleven years after the poem’s completion, Remnant Rose provides a key for unlocking an ever expanding breadth of interpretations incorporating vast analogies and metaphysical themes capped by a magically obscure but thinly veiled testament of simple hope - perhaps a hope essential to humanity’s prevalence in light of the shadow being cast by daunting challenges that appear to be looming , in the not too distant future…. 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                      Hope Heroes Publishing 2018