As you may or may not know, I enjoy the pursuit of creativity. That is not the same thing as saying that I do it well, but I am convinced that Christians must regain an appreciation for the arts in light of and for the Gospel. To that end, I take some time to highlight the pursuit of creativity here on Fridays. I link to the photography of Joe Kennedy, Will Turner, Timmy Brister, Joe Thorn and Steve McCoy, along with the Friday Flickr Group in which they participate. I also highlight a poet who may or may not be Christian, but who above all, uses words well and I also highlight a musical artist (more often than not instrumental since that’s primarily what I listen to) who makes at least one track available for free and legal download.

This week’s featured poet is Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). Scott was a celebrated Scottish novelist and poet. The son of a solicitor, Scott survived a childhood bout with polio that left him lame in his right leg for the rest of his life. Though he began his professional life by pursuing law, Scott begann writing at the age of 25. His works often focused on English and Scottish folklore including perhaps his best known work Ivanhoe. Today’s featured poem is To A Lock of Hair:

Thy hue, dear pledge, is pure and bright
As in that well — remember’d night
When first thy mystic braid was wove,
And first my Agnes whisper’d love.

Since then how often hast thou prest
The torrid zone of this wild breast,
Whose wrath and hate have sworn to dwell
With the first sin that peopled hell;
A breast whose blood’s a troubled ocean,
Each throb the earthquake’s wild commotion!
O if such clime thou canst endure
Yet keep thy hue unstain’d and pure,
What conquest o’er each erring thought
Of that fierce realm had Agnes wrought!
I had not wander’d far and wide
With such an angel for my guide;
Nor heaven nor earth could then reprove me
If she had lived and lived to love me.

Not then this world’s wild joys had been
To me one savage hunting scene,
My sole delight the headlong race
And frantic hurry of the chase;
To start, pursue, and bring to bay,
Rush in, drag down, and rend my prey,
Then — from the carcass turn away!
Mine ireful mood had sweetness tamed,
And soothed each wound which pride inflamed: –
Yes, God and man might now approve me
If thou hadst lived and lived to love me!

• Read Wikipedia’s Sir Walter Scott entry
• Read Sir Walter Scott for yourself

This week’s featured musical artist is John Davis. Davis formerly fronted the band Superdrag prior to his rather public (at least in some circles) conversion. Afterwards he released his self-titled solo release which is a celebration of that conversion and Davis’ newfound freedom in life.

In a recent interview with Magnet, Davis noted: “From the moment I was saved, I’ve just not been the same. It changed me. There’s a peace that comes with it that I’ve never had and that I’d been in search of. I tried to add a lot of artificial ingredients to get to it.” Today’s downloads actually come from the demo version of Davis’ self-titled album which he has seen fit to make available.

• Download “I Hear Your Voice” (demo version)
• Download “Salvation” (demo version)
• Download “Me & My Girl” (demo version)
• Download “Nothing Gets Me Down” (demo version)
• Download “Jesus Gonna Build Me A home” (demo version)
• Download “The Kind of Heart” (demo version)
• Download “Have Mercy” (demo version)
• Download “Take Me Apart (Tear Me Apart)” (demo version)
• Download “Stained Glass Window” (demo version)
• Download “Too Far Out” (demo version)
• Download “Lay Your Burden Down” (demo version)
• Download “Do You Know How Much You’ve Been Loved” (demo version)
• Download “I Should Have Known” (demo/unreleased)
• Download “Tell Me I’m Not Free” (demo version)
• Download “Watch Me Walk Away” (demo/unreleased)
• Visit John Davis’ official website
• Purchase John Davis’ music