Richard Wilbur, God, and Christianity

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Richard Wilbur, God, and Christianity

A recurring theme in the poetry of Richard Wilbur is one of God and Christianity. Biblical references can be found throughout his work, even in poems that have little to do with religion. However, this theme is quite prominent as there are several poems contain more than passing references. Wilbur provides in these poems ideas that Christians can identify with, either in the Christian lifestyle or straight from the Bible.

Richard Wilbur was raised by a Presbyterian father and an Episcopalian mother. Because his mother was closer to her own faith, they attended an Episcopal church. When Wilbur's parents opted to not go to church, a neighbor took him to a Baptist Sunday School. When he was in high school and college, he was involved in organizations such as Amherst's Christian Association. It was during the war that Wilbur says he had some "inwardness" because he "carried everywhere" a missal that a chaplain gave to him (Image). Wilbur's religious background is steeped in Christianity and different denominations. This gave him familiarity with scripture and doctrine.

In "Peter," Wilbur writes about the well-known apostle of Christ. The speaker is Peter himself, and the reader is shown his perspective during the last week of Christ's life. He confesses that they had drank "new wine" and had fallen asleep (line 3). This refers to Matthew 26:36-45 where the apostles, Peter included, kept falling asleep while Jesus prayed in Gethsemane. This was a time of distress for Jesus, and Peter knew that their own problems of drowsiness were minor compared to the impending weight of the cross on the shoulders of the Savior "at the story's close" (line 1). He also know...

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