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”

Tuba Mirum (Wonderful Trumpet)

“Christ is risen!” “He is risen indeed!” This exchange is traditionally heard between Christians of all stripes on Easter. Later this year, I plan to self-publish Voiceless Choirs: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. This book will include a series of poems based on Mozart’s Requiem Mass. Requiem masses are Catholic funeral services and include themesContinueContinue reading “Tuba Mirum (Wonderful Trumpet)”

The Wound

“The Wound” is a poetic retrospective of coming to know God from my third book, Shadow and Memory. It will also be in an upcoming book, Voiceless Choirs: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Voiceless Choirs is a collection of new and previously published poems that center on Christian spirituality. Right now, I am working withContinueContinue reading “The Wound”

Last Night’s Rain

This week’s poem is “Last Night’s Rain” from my new book, The Anonymity of Waiting. As I read it today, I wonder what emotions it evokes in readers. If any brave souls would like to share in the comments below, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I am hoping to self-publish a fifth book inContinueContinue reading “Last Night’s Rain”

Stars

My son, who has a budding interest in astrophysics, has been learning about black holes and stars. The other day he relayed what he had found out about the black hole in our own galaxy, superstars, and theories about the origins of the largest black hole discovered (to date). I won’t say I carried myContinueContinue reading “Stars”

Christ Arose

Happy Easter! Today, we remember that Jesus rose from the dead and is the resurrection and the life for every person He indwells 😊 A well known hymn about Christ’s resurrection is “Christ Arose” by Robert Lowry. This is one of the hymns I wrote a poem based on and which will appear in myContinueContinue reading “Christ Arose”

Easter Sun

Today marks the beginning of Passion Week, when Christians remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Last year, I wrote a poem called “Easter Sun,” which is made up of three haiku. “Easter Sun” will be part of a book coming out this year called Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Easter SunRays outstretched inContinueContinue reading “Easter Sun”

Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)

Last year, I started a series of poems based on Mozart’s Requiem. I ended up writing 12 poems that correspond to the 14 movements of the Requiem (two of the poems combine movements of the Requiem). These poems will be part of a book I hope to release this year entitled Psalms, Hymns, and SpiritualContinueContinue reading “Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)”

Softly and Tenderly

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”