Matthew Pullar

Epiphany (After Peter Steele’s “Madonna and Child”)

Tomorrow is Epiphany Sunday, and so I’ve chosen to begin my month of looking at Peter Steele’s poetry with this response to his poem “Madonna and Child”. Steele’s poem is an ekphrastic poem, meaning that it has come “out of” another art work, Justin O’Brien’s intriguing “Madonna and Child” (image from http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/8730/). I’ve followed Steele’sContinue reading “Epiphany (After Peter Steele’s “Madonna and Child”)”

Exultavit cor meum (1 Samuel 2:1-10)

Did she walk away singing, joy in heart? The knowledge sang within her, of the Rock From whom all water flowed, and this exchange In fortunes – rich brought low and poor made high. Yet richest gifts demand the largest part; Though free, as she went home, from those who’d mock, Such height, such grace,Continue reading “Exultavit cor meum (1 Samuel 2:1-10)”

12 Poets #10: Peter Steele

Well, the new year is here and it is time for a new poet. This month is very personally significant for me. Peter Steel SJ was an Australian poet and academic who taught me poetry in my fourth year of Literature at the University of Melbourne and had a deep influence upon my love ofContinue reading “12 Poets #10: Peter Steele”

Thanksgiving

This year I wrote a poem for my birthday called “Thanksgiving“, based around Psalm 116. In response to a request from one of my readers, I ended up setting the poem to music and recently recorded it with my friend Dave doing vocals. On this second last day of the year it seems a fittingContinue reading “Thanksgiving”

Faith

Your tenacious grip holds as it teaches loves as it reaches & renders all new. Your covenant grace deep into history manifold mystery never lets go.

Earth’s Carol (After Luci Shaw’s “Some Christmas Stars”)

One final poem for Advent, this one inspired by Luci Shaw’s “Some Christmas Stars“. Merry Christmas everyone. May it be a blessed time remembering the wonder of God made flesh. Earth’s Carol The stars make songs in silent sway, The roosters wait for newborn day, And I in brokenness make way To sing the songsContinue reading “Earth’s Carol (After Luci Shaw’s “Some Christmas Stars”)”

Descend, Ascend (After Luci Shaw’s “Made Flesh”)

As Advent draws frighteningly close to its festive conclusion, it’s time to catch up on the December poems for my 12 Poets Project. Today we enter another of Luci Shaw’s reflections on the Christmas story, the beautiful “Made Flesh” which was the inspiration for my next poem. Descend, Ascend (After Luci Shaw’s “Made Flesh”) Now,Continue reading “Descend, Ascend (After Luci Shaw’s “Made Flesh”)”

Pageant Part 10: The End

The best that Kim and Craig could work out was that Braydon had somehow come detached from the tree, which had fallen on top of Second and Third Sheep, which in turn had fallen onto Tayla. Kassie, unharmed physically but having experienced too many traumas with her brother that week, vindicated in her warnings yetContinue reading “Pageant Part 10: The End”

Pageant Part 9

Excited though everyone was about the pageant – the first that would not consist of a mawkishly sentimental song which they would all have to pretend to enjoy – the real feature on which everyone’s anticipation was focused was the fact that Grant and Sue would be there together. “I bet she thinks he’s changed.”Continue reading “Pageant Part 9”

Pageant Part 8

There were two more rehearsals before the day of the pageant. The children whose parts had been changed and who had new lines to learn were willing to go along with the secrecy demanded of them by Kim because they felt sufficiently special now that they had been promoted from entirely superfluous extras to speakingContinue reading “Pageant Part 8”