Back in May, my poem, “The Vineyard,” was published in Heart of Flesh Literary Journal. Through Heart of Flesh’s editor, Veronica McDonald, I learned about chapbooks. A chapbook is a short book of poems (usually 20-40). Often, the poems touch a single theme. In the next few months, I plan to self-publish a chapbook calledContinue reading "The State of Mercury"
Sing a Song of Sickness
More than 30 years ago now, I was thinking about the nursery rhyme, “Sing a Song of Sixpence” when a variation of the opening lines went through my head: “Sing a song of sickness / a pocketful of why”. The philosophic overtones of this variant juxtaposed with the sing-song feel of the nursery rhyme intriguedContinue reading "Sing a Song of Sickness"
The In-Beyond-Within
Spiritual things are among the most difficult for me to write about. There is not really a point of reference for spiritual realities in the world we know by sense experience. At best, sense experiences can provide analogies or imagery for spiritual things. Jesus Himself acknowledged this when He said, “If I have told youContinue reading "The In-Beyond-Within"
The Somnambulator
In the early 2000s, I became acquainted with the word “somnambulate,” which means to sleep walk. For some reason, the word amused me; I found myself thinking about it and about misadventures a somnambulator might have. (Incidentally, “somnambulator” isn’t a word…yet. Using poetic license, I’m starting a campaign to change that, 😉). Some of thoseContinue reading "The Somnambulator"
The Devil’s Thesaurus
When Samuel Faulk said something about haiku at the Bible study we attended, I thought, “This guy either writes or reads poetry.” I asked him about it later, and he admitted to reading AND writing poetry. We got together to talk poetry, and he told me about a book he’d been working on for awhileContinue reading "The Devil’s Thesaurus"
Summer’s End
It’s that time of year when it’s cool in the morning and warm during the day. I’d dress in layers but I run cold so I end up keeping my layers on 😉 The impending change of seasons reminded me of a poem in my second book, Event Horizon, called “Summer’s End.” It seemed aproposContinue reading "Summer’s End"
Mr. Andolini
This past week was the first week of school for my kids, so I thought I’d post a poem I wrote about a high school memory: “Mr. Andolini.” I often wonder why certain things stick with us. I wrote “Mr. Andolini” about 15 years after the events occurred. All those years later, the memory stillContinue reading "Mr. Andolini"
Dream Land—Christina Rossetti
I became acquainted with Christina Rossetti’s poetry while reading The Oxford Book of Christian Verse earlier this year. While her poems were written before the age of free verse, I was struck by how natural her language is—she avoids awkward word order to fit a poem’s meter or rhyme scheme. Some of her imagery isContinue reading "Dream Land—Christina Rossetti"
The Root’s Lament
Reverse poetry is a form that can be read from top to bottom and from bottom to top. Usually, when the poem is read from bottom to top, it reverses the top to bottom meaning. I first became acquainted with reverse poetry a couple years ago. My wife shared one with me called “Pretty Ugly.”Continue reading "The Root’s Lament"
Poetry’s Bouquet
Often I have to remind myself there are many kinds of poets. When a poem dazzles me, it’s easy to throw shade on my own work, to feel drab next to their shine. Dylan Thomas is one of my favorite poets, if not my absolute favorite. That said, I doubt I’ve understood two of hisContinue reading "Poetry’s Bouquet"
A Wandering Minstrel 