5:18 – The frantic train, All stations from North Melbourne to Craigieburn. Packed to overflowing, Commuters cram, A sea of black Overcoats mingling, Bursting as one; Newspapers jamming As doors slide shut, A zip pulling tight On an overfull seam. 5:21 – This train Does not go all The way to Craigieburn; And soContinue reading “All Stations”
Author Archives: Matthew Pullar
King of the Canopy (Third Sunday After Pentecost)
I. In the forest of trees, They looked for a king Mid the loftiest tree-tops That scraped the canopy, Where the eye soared to see; They looked there for a king, And staggered drunk to see Such height there. But the priest of the trees Turned then to see The lowliest sprig On a tallContinue reading “King of the Canopy (Third Sunday After Pentecost)”
Bed-Time Stories (For J.R.R. Tolkien)
When the day’s dim delusions Implode at sad endings – Sherlock Holmes has fallen at Reichenbach Falls; Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother’s gone; The battle is lost, Mordred has won, The King’s gone to Avalon; Gandalf is dead – Broken heads head for safe pillows, Reciting old stories – How this frog was turnedContinue reading “Bed-Time Stories (For J.R.R. Tolkien)”
Origami Prayer
Open me outwards; Too long I’ve wandered Inside inward caverns In search of the words For textures and fissures And tensions inside. Open me upwards; Let Your sun fill me. Too long I’ve enclosed Myself in my Self, Wounding and licking The wounds of the dark. Open me up to the Surge ofContinue reading “Origami Prayer”
The Better Sacrifice
Out from the ground the blood of Abel the blood of Abel cries: for vengeance and for mercy cries, cries and cries unto the skies, the one whose worthy sacrifice found favour in God’s eyes; And now he lies within the soil, blood soaking into the soil, soaking, soaking, calling out for mercy,Continue reading “The Better Sacrifice”
The Chink in the Surface of Things (For Evelyn Underhill)
She had seen, abruptly, the insecurity of those defences which protect our illusions and ward off the horrors of truth. She had found a little hole in the wall of appearances; and peeping through, had caught a glimpse of that seething pot of spiritual forces whence, now and then, a bubble rises to the surfaceContinue reading “The Chink in the Surface of Things (For Evelyn Underhill)”
The Lost Things and the Christ-Child (For Anthony of Padua)
This poem should have been written and posted yesterday but it was a hectic day and so the poem did not get written until today. It was another difficult one to write, Saint Anthony – the Patron Saint of Lost Things – being the subject of some elaborate stories which, though amazing, potentially distract usContinue reading “The Lost Things and the Christ-Child (For Anthony of Padua)”
Running, Lagging
Legs, lift these sluggish feet. Bending, rising, take the weight Of bodies dragging, sinking, lagging; Oppose the pull of death and wind. Swollen, swelling wounds, be silent; Tendons, hold firm – do not snap; Blood, push out the stagnant fluid Clogging, blocking every flow. Lungs, give force to move this body; Charge, instruct;Continue reading “Running, Lagging”
Barnabas’ Field
What fields have we That we hold back? What lands, what wealth, What rich provision, That we stand defiant, wanting The credit yet hoarding the wealth, Clinging on and yet feigning To give and thus losing? We fall ever short of the call: not To give from compulsion, false duty, but that In giving, weContinue reading “Barnabas’ Field”
The Second Sunday After Pentecost
Today’s poem takes the form of a liturgy, using each of the set Bible readings for the day. I hope it can be helpful to some. I. The Collect First we start upon our knees Before You, from whom all good proceeds, Knowing we can never please Save that we go where Your Spirit leads.Continue reading “The Second Sunday After Pentecost”
The Consolations of Writing 