Author Archives: Matthew Pullar

Evening Prayer

The leaves whistle change; no longer burning, the air sings a softer tune, and I wander in the evening street attuned to change, yet stuck within the day’s exhaustion, mind empty, spirit vacant. I lift my arms to walk, to pray, the day ahead uncertain, silent – cooler, but still not within my arms’ reach.Continue reading “Evening Prayer”

Morning Song (After Peter Steele’s “An Ordinary Evening In Kew”)

Time for my last poem for Peter Steele, this one based on his simple and delicate “An Ordinary Evening in Kew”. Less theological than the other poems I have chosen, this one is a wonderful tribute to the simple beauties of God’s gift of life. Morning Song (After “An Ordinary Evening in Kew”) The KensingtonContinue reading “Morning Song (After Peter Steele’s “An Ordinary Evening In Kew”)”

Crux

Yesterday I posted my own poem written in response to Peter Steele’s heartbreaking “Crux”. Here, as an additional kind of tribute to my old teacher, is a musical setting of the poem that I wrote and recorded. Steele’s words, from his liturgical sequence, “A Season in Retreat”, are included below for you to read asContinue reading “Crux”

What He Meant (After Peter Steele’s “Crux”)

The third poem written in response to Peter Steele comes from his very moving work, “Crux”, possibly one of his best poems. You can read the original poem here. Like Steele’s poem, mine is written from the perspective of one of Jesus’ followers immediately after His death, and ponders how Jesus’ words may have seemedContinue reading “What He Meant (After Peter Steele’s “Crux”)”

Autumn Soul

Poor leaves – gold before the sun is gone, heat-confused, your brothers green, fallen now before your time, the street lined thick with your mistake – leaves, lie still and wait. Last week summer ruled the street; spring creeps in, winter retreats. We mourned the heat, we dreamt the dreams that drove the leaves downContinue reading “Autumn Soul”

Catechism 3

How many persons are there in God? There are three persons in the one true and living God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the same in substance, equal in power and glory. (New City Catechism) Plural in the beginning: Let us make man… The Divine counsel gathered for this actContinue reading “Catechism 3”

Catechism 2

Who is God? God is the creator and sustainer of everyone and everything. He is eternal, infinite, and unchanging in his power and perfection, goodness and glory, wisdom, justice and truth. Nothing happens except through him and by his will. (New City Catechism) Sufficient, self-giving, Never without, Always unchanging, Free and enough. Contented, completed, NeverContinue reading “Catechism 2”

Childhood (After Peter Steele’s “Star Man”)

For those who follow the church calendar, we are now in the season of Epiphany, the brief time between Christmas and Lent. Peter Steele’s cycle of poems “Rounding a Year”, deals nicely with this season, especially the strange in-between period where Jesus has been born but is not yet approaching the Cross. I’ve used today’sContinue reading “Childhood (After Peter Steele’s “Star Man”)”