My birthday is this month. I’ve never been one to dwell on (or act) my age, but since hitting my 50s there are ways my age is unavoidable: chronic aches (physically and emotionally), new (and unpleasant) routine medical procedures, and an awareness of how much is behind me (versus in front of me). Last weekContinueContinue reading “Remember?”
Category Archives: Modern poetry
Old Glory
July fourth, Independence Day, memorializes the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. This document formally announced The United States’ separation from England and outlined the reasons for the separation. Americans consider July fourth our country’s birthday, and this year we are 250 years old. Happy Birthday, USA! Below is a poem from my first book,ContinueContinue reading “Old Glory”
Light Conversation
This past week, my wife and I took a road trip to see the redwoods and to celebrate 27 years of marriage. It was a fantastic trip, full of gifts: we enjoyed each other, fresh seafood in coastal towns, and stunning ocean views. We saw redwoods in a couple locations; each was like stepping intoContinueContinue reading “Light Conversation”
Emptiest
In my last post, I talked about a poem I was working on that ended up being two poems. One poem was a tanka, a Japanese poetic form; the other is a poem I entitled “Emptiest”, whose form took shape as I wrote it. First, a couple stanzas naturally ended with “empty breast” and “emptyContinueContinue reading “Emptiest”
Tablet
“Moses Breaks the Tablets of the Law” by Gustav Dore Today is Pentecost Sunday, when Christians remember the giving of the Holy Spirit. “Pentecost” means “Fifty,” and occurs 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead. On Pentecost, the fullness of the Spirit was poured out on Jesus to signify His anointing as King ofContinueContinue reading “Tablet”
Kyrie
from The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson Today’s poem is from a series of poems based on the text of Mozart’s Requiem Mass. The Kyrie is the second section of the mass and has a brief text: Kyrie eleison / Lord, have mercyChriste eleison / Christ, have mercyKyrie eleison / Lord, have mercyContinueContinue reading “Kyrie”
Widow’s Weeds – Joseph Powell
For Mother’s Day, I’d like to post a poem about a mother by Dr. Joseph Powell. Dr. Powell is an emeritus professor of English at Central Washington University. When I attended CWU 20+ years ago, I took one of Dr. Powell’s poetry courses. His class continues to shape the way I think about and writeContinueContinue reading “Widow’s Weeds – Joseph Powell”
Warmth
When I began reading scripture (many years ago now), I was surprised to find real people in every book of the Bible. I think I expected stodgy folks who were (mostly) perfect and had an answer for everything (or at least pretended they did). Instead, I found self-doubters, whiners, and weaklings; people soaring to giddyContinueContinue reading “Warmth”
Every Dogma Has Its Day
As you’ll see, today’s poem started with a gut feeling (no pun intended). From there, I let myself free-associate, which led to synthesizing dog-related idioms into a new thought. Free associating is an approach to writing I’ve been trying lately. It’s just one tool and doesn’t always lead to a finished poem. But when itContinueContinue reading “Every Dogma Has Its Day”
Flower
One thing I appreciate about writing is that it gives me an imaginative space to explore and process emotions—all kinds of emotions. In this space, I try to encounter what I’m experiencing non-judgmentally. Emotions aren’t always neat, tidy, or pretty. Art aims to re-present experience in a way that is honest but crafted and beautiful.ContinueContinue reading “Flower”
A Wandering Minstrel 