My year-long poetry project, “The Swelling Year”, is drawing to a close and will finish shortly after the Easter period ends. Today’s poem signals something of a milestone in the project: the last of the “feast days” for significant Christians remembered in the Anglican calendar. Somewhat appropriately, this poem remembers John Keble, a man whoseContinue reading “The Slowing Year (For John Keble)”
Author Archives: Matthew Pullar
The Soul’s Travail (Good Friday)
After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11) High and lifted up Astonishing the faithless many Kings with mouths agape yet shut And hearts with closed fists Lifted high aboveContinue reading “The Soul’s Travail (Good Friday)”
One Day
This poem isn’t much more than the literary equivalent of doodling. But it is the first night of the school holidays, the eve of Good Friday (and with it the night before a church service which I am contributing some poetry for), and the end of a difficult week emotionally, so I felt in needContinue reading “One Day”
Unblemished Lamb (Maundy Thursday)
Not all of you are clean, he said: A glance that spoke no judgment, though He saw us to the core. Instead, with all things under him, He wrapped a towel around his waist And knelt before our feet. But Peter, stubborn to the last, Declared, Lord, you can’t wash my feet! The servant wasContinue reading “Unblemished Lamb (Maundy Thursday)”
The Wounded Servant (Wednesday in Holy Week)
Sustaining the weary with a word, There were none who would come to him That he would turn aside. Morning by morning his ear awoke To hear the cries of the small and weak, The beaten and the bruised. And beaten and bruised, he turned his back To take their lashes, and turned his cheekContinue reading “The Wounded Servant (Wednesday in Holy Week)”
Children of Light (Tuesday in Holy Week)
Arise, little ones. Though in your smallness you cannot see Beyond the faint horizon: He comes, he comes, Across the seas, Bearing light upon his brow. To those despised deeply, Abhorred by the world, He comes bearing folly, to weaken the wise; He sweeps the vast coastlands,Continue reading “Children of Light (Tuesday in Holy Week)”
The Former Things (Monday in Holy Week)
See – He who stretched the heavens out with His hands And spread out the earth and all it contains, Whose breath fills our lungs with infinitude, Who beckons us in with His arms – He sees the smouldering wick in the dark And the reed that has been bruisedContinue reading “The Former Things (Monday in Holy Week)”
The Annunciation
And so this is our sign, To those with hard and opened hearts Within the heights and deepest depths, This then is our sign: The virgin shall have a child; She who is small in your proud eyes Shall bring forth what the world can’t hold, What human eyes can’t see. This then is theContinue reading “The Annunciation”
Octave for Unity (For Paul Couturier, Ecumenist)
And in His body we are all made one And pray by day and night that we may be, As He prayed for us in Gethsemane: One body, shining in Him like the sun. If we have any comfort, consolation From being in Him, this then is our plea:Continue reading “Octave for Unity (For Paul Couturier, Ecumenist)”
Palm Sunday
See your king. He comes Humble, on a donkey. See your king, triumphant, strong, Humble, on a donkey. See your king; the people cry: Hosannah! Save us, blessed one! See your king; not even rocks Can stay silent as he rides. See your king; he rides towards A weeping garden, aContinue reading “Palm Sunday”
The Consolations of Writing 