Last night, there was a lightning storm, plus some nearby wildfires, so it is fitting I chose “Psalm 97” as today’s poem. This poem poetically re-processes the original psalm, which presents God as Justice and King. ”Psalm 97” is part of my new collection, Voiceless Choirs: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, which I released lastContinueContinue reading “Psalm 97”
Category Archives: Free verse
Voiceless Choirs—Now Available
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 sacredContinueContinue reading “Voiceless Choirs—Now Available”
Torches
As we speak, the last (I hope) proof copy of my new book is in the mail: Voiceless Choirs: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. I am looking forward to this book. Completing it took more hard work than I can put into words, but it took even more grace. Many of the poems only survivedContinueContinue reading “Torches”
Shock
One day, I had a serious thought. But for some reason, I processed this serious thought using playful variations of familiar phrases. Somehow, out of that mess, today’s poem was born. I’ve written poetry and music for about 35 years. But at the end of the day, the creative process is a mystery to me.ContinueContinue reading “Shock”
Cat with a Mona Lisa Smile
Usually, I post Sunday morning but at 9:00 tonight I realized I forgot! Monday morning will have to do, I suppose. I was going to blame being tired because my cats woke me up at 5:30 this morning. Then I remembered I usually write my posts on Saturday and schedule them to post on Sunday.ContinueContinue reading “Cat with a Mona Lisa Smile”
Doing Nothing
I can be…driven, goal-oriented. I am usually working on something and have very little idle time. But today, I feel a little lazy. Granted, it’s the weekend, and by 2:15 Saturday afternoon (when I am writing this), I’ve already worked on a poem, attended two ministry-related meetings, and mowed both my lawns. So maybe I’mContinueContinue reading “Doing Nothing”
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Digital Painting by Patrick Murphy My upcoming book, Voiceless Choirs: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, is getting closer to being finished. Next step is to get a proof-copy of the paperback. I also need to set up the e-book version. One section of Voiceless Choirs contains poems based on traditional Christian hymns. Rather than justContinueContinue reading “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”
Skin
Painting by Gustave Dore: “Adam and Eve Driven out of Eden” Christians believe that, originally, people lived in harmony with God, each other, and creation. Then came “The Fall.” Basically, the first people (Adam and Eve) ignored what God said and went their own way; they ate from the tree of knowing good and evil.ContinueContinue reading “Skin”
Psalm 102
In July or August I plan to self-publish my next book, Voiceless Choirs: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. I have looked forward to printing this book. Writing the poems in this collection challenged me more than almost anything else I’ve written; I also feel that some of them represent my best work. Today’s poem isContinueContinue reading “Psalm 102”
Resurrection
In the next few months, I hope to self-publish my next book, Voiceless Choirs: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Every book I’ve put out is important to me since it represents a season of writing; each contains poems I’ve labored and agonized over, some of which I particularly love. But the poems in Voiceless ChoirsContinueContinue reading “Resurrection”
A Wandering Minstrel 