Last week, I mentioned I’m working on poems based on Christian hymns that will be included in an upcoming book, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. My goal has been to write modern poems in which I poetically interact with a hymn rather than just rehashing it. Synthesizing and distilling the text of a hymn into new imageryContinueContinue reading “Softly and Tenderly”
Category Archives: Modern poetry
Caverns
In other posts, I’ve mentioned I’m working on my fourth book, The Anonymity of Waiting. Well, at some point last year I started working on a fifth book at the same time. It started with poems based on the text of Mozart’s Requiem Mass. From there, I moved on to writing poems based on Psalms. I originally thought allContinueContinue reading “Caverns”
Perfect Words
On Thursday, my friend Matt Randles (also a writer) sent me the meme above and said, “Use any (or all!) of these words in your next poem.” Being an overachiever (at least, when I feel like it), I immediately decided I would try to use all the words in a poem. I’m not sure whatContinueContinue reading “Perfect Words”
No Rhyme or Reason
On A Wandering Minstrel’s Facebook page, I sometimes post poetry memes in between weekly blog posts. I was close to posting a meme about English words that are spelled alike but don’t sound alike when I thought of a poem from my book Event Horizon: “No Rhyme or Reason.” The lines of this poem end with wordsContinueContinue reading “No Rhyme or Reason”
Goldenrod—Mary Oliver
At a yard sale, my wife picked up New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver. I had heard of Oliver but hadn’t read much of her work. At some point between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I started reading. Oliver is quickly becoming a favorite poet. She is known for simple imagery, plain speaking, and a focus on nature. There isContinueContinue reading “Goldenrod—Mary Oliver”
Hell Is Multi-Tasking
The title of today’s post and poem says a lot about me and how I feel about multi-tasking 😉 It’s on my mind because I am, in fact, multi-tasking today. As I write, I am also roasting coffee, as well as making a list for the rest of the day. And this is as close to eternal punishmentContinueContinue reading “Hell Is Multi-Tasking”
Chasing Santa
Happy Christmas eve! Below is a poem from my first book, The Wind and the Shadows called, “Chasing Santa.” It recalls a Christmas eve from my childhood that, for me, suggested something more. I will leave you to read it, but ere I surf out of sight I’ll say, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all aContinueContinue reading “Chasing Santa”
Yule-icide
How did it get to be the week before Christmas? This year, I feel like every holiday (not to mention birthdays) snuck up behind me in stocking feet and yelled, “BOO!” There wasn’t time to prepare, decorate, buy things…only time to be startled and jump. Below is a poem I wrote last year during Christmas andContinueContinue reading “Yule-icide”
2 AM
I’d say most of my poems are finished within a week or two of starting them. I usually have several I’m working on at a time. Creativity is like a shark: it’s best if it keeps moving. So if I’m stuck on one poem, I can work on another and keep moving! Then there areContinueContinue reading “2 AM”
The Panther (Ogden Nash)
I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy light verse because a dash of humor brings perspective. At some point in our marriage (probably the first decade), my wife introduced me to Ogden Nash, and he has remained a favorite author of light verse. Light verse has found its way into all of my books, most recentlyContinueContinue reading “The Panther (Ogden Nash)”
A Wandering Minstrel 