I am happy to announce that Voiceless Choirs: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs is now available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. This is my fifth full length book of poetry, and the first where all the poems are around a single theme—spirituality.
Much of the verse in this collection poetically interacts with sacred texts such as Psalms, Christian hymns, and Mozart’s Requiem. There are also new and previously published poems that are devotional in nature, which I consider “spiritual songs.”
I am indebted to several people who helped with this volume. My daughter, Kate, translated the text of Mozart’s Requiem from Latin to English so I could include it. My friend and fellow writer, Matt Randles, made a suggestion that led to the title Voiceless Choirs. Bryan Halferty and Dr. Joseph Powell both gave helpful feedback on some of the poems in this collection. Last, but not least, my friend, Noah Fultz, designed the cover FOR FREE and handled my numerous requests for revisions while in his first year of parenting! Thank you all!
Below is a poem inspired by two sections of Mozart’s Requiem: Sanctus and Benedictus. Kate’s translation of the original text follows.
V. Sanctus (Holy) / VI. Benedictus (Blessed)
Palm trees soar in the heavens
on swooping branches feathered with rapier leaves—
wings that might belong to seraphim crying,“Holy, holy, holy”
now laid in the dust
as carpet for a donkey’s hooves,
which leave them crushed and mangled
beneath a sallow sun.
**
Original Texts from Mozart’s Requiem
(translated by Kate McKamey)
V. Sanctus (Holy)
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God of hosts.
The heavens and earth are filled with your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
VI. Benedictus (Blessed)
Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
A Wandering Minstrel 