Poets play with the sound of words perhaps more than other writers. Who can read “As Kingfishers Catch Fire” (by Gerard Manley Hopkins) and think otherwise? How about the incantatory rhymes of Poe’s “The Raven”? —“Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December; And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon theContinueContinue reading “The Wheels in the Wheels”
Category Archives: Spiritual / religious poetry
Crux
“A. Edward Newton tells a story of Oscar Wilde at an English house party. Pleading the necessity of working while the humor was on, he begged to be excused from joining the other guests. In the evening his hostess asked him what he had accomplished. ‘This morning,’ he said, ‘I put a comma in oneContinueContinue reading “Crux”
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”
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”
Imago
Today is Easter Sunday, the end of Holy Week, when Christians remember Jesus’s resurrection from the dead. Today’s poem, “Imago”, is from my fifth book, Voiceless Choirs: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Writing always involves a bit of mystery. Sometimes I get intuitions and pursue ideas without realizing their full depth. Much of that IContinueContinue reading “Imago”
Denial
Today is the beginning of Holy Week—the seven days leading up to Easter. Holy Week is a roller coaster that starts with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), plunges into grief at the Last Supper (Maundy Thursday), bottoms out with Christ’s crucifixion and burial (Good Friday), then launches to the greater heights of Christ’sContinueContinue reading “Denial”
Fairest Lord Jesus
“Fairest Lord Jesus” has long been a favorite hymn of mine. The text presents beautiful scenes from nature, then says how much more beautiful Jesus is. The music is full of longing. All together, there is an adoration in this hymn that makes it more like a love song than anything else. Verse two says:ContinueContinue reading “Fairest Lord Jesus”
Perdition
This last week, I was thumbing through my third book, Shadow and Memory, and found myself liking the poems in there. As I’ve written poetry or music over the years, I’ve found it’s easier to enjoy something I’ve created once some time has passed. Memories of agonizing over which word to use, whether to breakContinueContinue reading “Perdition”
In Memoriam CVI (106)
Last year, I became acquainted with Tennyson’s In Memoriam, a series of 131 poems he wrote for a close friend that died suddenly. These poems are full of beauty and striking imagery that uncovers the many faces of grief. I’ve read through In Memoriam twice but continue to keep a copy by my bed soContinueContinue reading “In Memoriam CVI (106)”
