Sooo... a few colleagues have been asking me what exactly is a poetic parable?
Thanks to Wikipedia I have a quick succinct explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable
A parable is a succinct, didactic story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs from a fable in that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, whereas parables have human characters.[1] A parable is a type of analogy.
The Visitor makes use of the parable concept combined with poetry, resulting in each stanza of the visitor's comments being a "poetic parable". In other words; there is a story within the story.
The reader can read the visitor's words and obtain a clear surface story which illustrates one perspective; easily digested and understood. However, within the surface story, a little deeper lurks the parable (instructive lessons or principles).
To understand the parable it is important to understand who the visitor is; and that part is a little tricky. The reason being is that "The Visitor" is only the first of eight novels which together make up "The Corvus Chronicles: A Journey In Love". To make it even a little more challenging, "The Visitor" although the first novel released; is really the seventh book. (Books II and III - The Stranger and The Beloved - are both prequels and will be released next).
As such, the reader may be a little disorientated when looking for the deeper meaning. And that is totally okay. The first 20 pages or so in The Visitor are used to help anchor "who the visitor is" which is important in attempting to grasp the underlying message. There are clues throughout the novel beyond the introduction which help. Sometimes it is the simple change of font in a sentence, sometimes it is a switch in language, and sometimes a name is literally spelled out although hidden in plain view.
The reality is; it is not until you have gone through the Journey in Love (The Corvus Chronicles) that you may understand know who the visitor is; and it may very well surprise you. It's not me, it's not a historic or religious figure, it is not anyone overly famous - but it is someone you may recognize.
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Whether or not you see the parable directly in your first read matters not; as I am sure that you will find something that holds meaning to you. As you become more familiar with the story, chances are that you will start to see the underlying message. The message you take is yours.
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For further illustration of the concept of a "poetic parable" I invite you to check out the previous blogs on Stanzas I-VII on "Love" where you will see the author's commentary on the deeper messages within the poem. Even so, remember that is only the author's interpretation and your understanding may be totally different, yet still true.
That is the beauty of the poetic parable. It is by its nature tailored to orientate you towards your own heart. After all, a parable must be read by the heart, not the eyes.
Matthew 13:15
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts