Religion in Poetry

Over the past few weeks, we’ve learned about various aspects to pay attention to in poems to truly get the most from them: tone, imagery, perspective, etc. But the technique that continues to catch my attention is the use of religious references or references to a higher power. I'm wondering, what unique contribution do these references make and how?

Firstly, in “The Juggler”, the speaker describes the way the juggler “reels that heaven in” referencing the cycle of the juggling balls around him. When I first read this, the use of the word “heaven” caused me to immediately and almost subconsciously recognize the special power the juggler seemed to have. It was automatically clear to me that this juggler had abilities that were otherworldly, which is kind of crazy considering he’s just a juggler (impressive, but definitely not god-like in any other scenario). But could this instant effect be achieved with any other technique? For me, probably not. Thinking about it, no imagery, simile, or hyperbole could’ve given me the same sudden change in attitude I had for the juggler. 

On the other hand, we have the religious reference used in “A Story”: “Are you a god, / … that I sit mute before you?” This reference was different in the feeling it instilled in me. Although I felt a shift suddenly (like in “The Juggler”), I now felt extreme pity and hopelessness, the opposite of the admiration I felt for the juggler. And, like with “The Juggler”, this reference had an entirely different effect from the other techniques in the piece. Although the desperation of the father was displayed throughout, the reference of “a god” gave me immediate clarity on the feeling of dread and distress I had for the father. 

It seems to me that references to a higher power in poems, and literature in general, can cause instant changes in emotion and feelings readers have towards subjects. Of course, poets likely include religious references intentionally, knowing these effects. But why are they special? Could it be because of the universality of religious concepts such as heaven and gods? Or maybe it’s because we unknowingly fear the idea of an all-knowing, all-controlling higher power. Either way, it's evident that religious references can be very effective, so I’ll make sure to use one the next time I need to ask my parents for something.