CATTACK!

Soon (sooner than I’d like 😉), we will be dropping our daughter, Kate, at Providence Christian College in Pasadena, CA. Kate LOVES cats, so I am posting a cat poem today in honor of her departure. It also seemed apropos to share a cat poem because I am going to start prepping my cat chapbookContinue reading "CATTACK!"

Elements

When I was in college, I took a poetry class. Looking back, I learned so much in that class; my writing changed a lot afterward. That said, I was skeptical of many things at first. The professor’s philosophy about poetry differed from mine at the time. But as I tried the things I was hearing,Continue reading "Elements"

A Tongue

Spiritual experience can be hard to put into words because it’s often beyond words. This is probably why the Bible is full of visions, parables, dreams, and poetry. Imagery, metaphor, and symbolism are sometimes the best ways to express the inexpressible. Paradox can also be useful in understanding and communicating things of the spirit. ChristContinue reading "A Tongue"

Deep Focus: Matt Randles

Matt Randles and I go waaay back…about 32 years to be exact. We were both studying music at Central Washington University when we met. Back then, we didn’t hang out much. He was too…Christian. I was an elitist who enjoyed staring contests with the abyss 😉 Fast forward about 9 years, and Matt is attendingContinue reading "Deep Focus: Matt Randles"

Thankless

This might sound funny, but after becoming a Christian, one of the little things I appreciated was having someone to thank. I remember getting a chili dog at 7-11 one night, biting into it, and so enjoying the cheap, convenience store vibe of the dish that I spontaneously said, “Thank you, Lord!” As I saidContinue reading "Thankless"

Psalm 1

Back in April, I mentioned I was working on a series of poems inspired by Mozart’s Requiem. My plan was not merely to rehash the Requiem’s text in a modern style but to interact with the text poetically. I hoped to write poems that reimagined the text through my personal lens while (hopefully) honoring theContinue reading "Psalm 1"

Elegy in a Firelit Room

Nearly 20 years ago, I fell in love with a poem by Franz Wright called, “On the Death of a Cat.” I’ve shared it more than once with friends who have lost pets because of its affectionate vulnerability. Last fall, while meandering about the Poetry Foundation’s website, I became intrigued by a poet named JamesContinue reading "Elegy in a Firelit Room"

Working Out

There’s always a point in the work out videos I use when the leader asks, “Aren’t you glad you worked out today?” or “Doesn’t this feel good?” Mentally, I answer “NO” every time. I’ve never been one of those people who enjoys exercise. It’s more of a necessary evil. I suspect I’m not alone inContinue reading "Working Out"

Blank

Since I was traveling this past week, I am posting a day later than usual! When I returned home yesterday, the first paperback copies of my third book, Shadow and Memory were waiting. This got me thinking about today’s post. Most of the poems in Shadow and Memory were written in 2022, one of theContinue reading "Blank"