Matthew Pullar

All Souls

Some have gone to sleep at night, Their souls secure within His grip, The sins of yesterday, today Already washed and cleaned. Some have tapered slowly out, Every last breath a long release, The daily giving up of life, The agony of gasping prayer. Some are taken by surprise, The unexpected thief at night, TheContinue reading “All Souls”

All Saints

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours… (1 Corinthians 1:2) All saints, and yet The pagans quake To see the livesContinue reading “All Saints”

All Hallows’ Eve

Will you don your pumpkin face? Will you, jack-o-lantern-like, Seek to trick the wandering souls That seize on this, their final chance, To be avenged or else set free? If you do, though you poke holes Into the harvest’s firm illusions, You will not see wandering souls, Only a trick of dappled light, As slowContinue reading “All Hallows’ Eve”

Justification (For Martin Luther and Other Continental Reformers)

My case is null and void. I have nothing to say. At best I have my weak excuses, At worst I have my lies. And all the words against me lie Pinned up to the church’s wall; Every word the satan breaths Says of me what is true: That there is not in this worldContinue reading “Justification (For Martin Luther and Other Continental Reformers)”

Eclipsed (For Simon the Zealot and Jude, Apostles and Martyrs)

Thus we behold two illustrious Apostles contented scarcely to be mentioned in Holy Scripture: which celestial partial eclipse is followed up by their sharing one Festival between them. (Christina Rossetti, Time Flies: A Reading Diaryj) My zeal clamours for heaven, Grabs it with its fists, Wrestles glory to make it mine, Steals the horizon andContinue reading “Eclipsed (For Simon the Zealot and Jude, Apostles and Martyrs)”

Lost Causes (For Saint Jude)

Not all our of causes are lost; Not all that are lost are beyond recovery. Not all who stumble will stay down; Not all who rebel have hard hearts. Not all who loom over fire are yet burned; Not all doubt is unbelief. Not all who believe will stand firm; Not every cloud brings rain.Continue reading “Lost Causes (For Saint Jude)”

In Convertendo Dominus (Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost)

Bless the Lord at all times: Though somehow the pain of blessing May cut through you with its sword; In your days of fear and anguish, Bless the Lord. Seek His face in every time: When you see Him clearly and When the sun obscures your gaze; On the days of desert wandering, Seek HisContinue reading “In Convertendo Dominus (Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost)”

Yet This Beacon Glimmers (For the United Nations)

The naive child longs for peace; The knowing adult smiles in condescension. The dreamer in the flowers hopes For that which realists know can’t be. And all the wisdom of each age Says what goes and what falls flat And takes the pin to all fond hopes, Bubbles burst with age and growth. And progressContinue reading “Yet This Beacon Glimmers (For the United Nations)”

The Mirror (For James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr)

If I see myself reflected – All my guilt and all my shame – How can I help but weep to see What I am before Him? If I look Him in the eye – Him, the brother that I scorned – Can I bear to hold my gaze? Can I let Him see me?Continue reading “The Mirror (For James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr)”

More Clearly, More Dearly, More Nearly (For Richard of Chichester

I am in the process of going back and writing some poems that I missed earlier in the year, so that the final collection of these liturgical poems can start and finish as neatly as possible. Here is one for April 3 of this year. More Clearly, More Dearly, More Nearly (For Richard of Chichester)Continue reading “More Clearly, More Dearly, More Nearly (For Richard of Chichester”