One of my favourite poems by Christina Rossetti is the lovely and comfortingly simple “Uphill”. The poem is written as a dialogue between two people and has always expressed to me both the hardship of the Christian walk and the certainty of the hope before us. I have tried to reflect these things in writingContinue reading “The Road (After Christina Rossetti’s “Uphill”)”
Category Archives: 12 Poets Project
Poet #4: Christina Rossetti
Well, a new month begins: July, my favourite month of the year. And so it seems fitting, in the month of my birth, to move onto one of my absolute favourite poets, the passionate and devout Victorian poet, Christina Rossetti. I’m excited to be looking at her work this month, and I hope you’re excitedContinue reading “Poet #4: Christina Rossetti”
I Saw Him Standing
To spend a moment longer with Ann Griffiths’ poetry, I’ve set my favourite of her poems to music. Apologies for the bad quality of the recording and my singing. I hope that the music can help express some of the beauty of her words. If not, here they are to read on their own! IContinue reading “I Saw Him Standing”
Ann Griffiths: The Beloved on the Sacred Mountain
To conclude my month of working with the poetry of Ann Griffiths, here is an essay reflecting on her writing. I am wary of adding my ill-informed contribution to the little available about her online, but I hope that it might still open her work up to those who are interested; she truly is worthContinue reading “Ann Griffiths: The Beloved on the Sacred Mountain”
In His field, amidst the flowers (After Ann Griffiths’ “His left hand, in heat of noonday”)
This is, sadly, my last poem working with the lovely eighteenth-century Welsh poet Ann Griffiths. This one is based on the beautifully simple “His left hand, in heat of noonday”, translated here by H.A. Hodges, who has translated a number of Griffiths’ poems and hymns into English. In my own poem I have worked withContinue reading “In His field, amidst the flowers (After Ann Griffiths’ “His left hand, in heat of noonday”)”
Ripped in two by self, desire (After Ann Griffiths’ “Since I am corruptly fallen”)
Another of 18th-century Welsh poet Ann Griffiths’ beautiful prayers is the powerful “Since I am corruptly fallen”, an expression both of the intensity of human sin and the glory of God’s grace. I’ve included the original poem, as translated by A.Z. Foreman, at the end of this post. In my own poem, I have triedContinue reading “Ripped in two by self, desire (After Ann Griffiths’ “Since I am corruptly fallen”)”
Song of the Pierced Veil (After Ann Griffiths’ “Hymn for the Mercy Seat”)
My poems based on the work of Welsh poet Ann Griffiths have been a bit slow in coming out this month, I’m afraid. It’s been a particularly busy time at work and in my studies, giving me many other things to occupy my time apart from writing poetry. But it’s time to catch up! Continue reading “Song of the Pierced Veil (After Ann Griffiths’ “Hymn for the Mercy Seat”)”
The Bright-Shining Lord (After Ann Griffiths’ “I Saw Him Standing”)
I first discovered the amazingly visceral and love-saturated poetry of Ann Griffiths through my friend Erin who posted a couple of Rowan Williams’ translations on her blog a while back. The one that arrested me in particular was “I Saw Him Standing”, which you can read on Erin’s blog here. I’ve chosen it as anContinue reading “The Bright-Shining Lord (After Ann Griffiths’ “I Saw Him Standing”)”
12 Poets #3: Ann Griffiths
Well, a new month has begun and this means it’s time to move onto a new poet, this time eighteenth-century Welsh poet Ann Griffiths. Her work was originally written in Welsh but there have been a number of beautiful translations, including those done by former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, so I’m looking forward toContinue reading “12 Poets #3: Ann Griffiths”
William Cowper – The Waiting Soul
To finish off my month of looking at William Cowper, here is an essay that I have written on his life and work – an attempt to draw together the threads of life that was simultaneously dark and beautiful. I hope you find it a helpful read. William Cowper – The Waiting Soul
The Consolations of Writing 