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
Category Archives: Essays
George Herbert – The Broken Altar
As April comes to an end, my time spent with the poetry of George Herbert also comes to its conclusion. Here is the essay that I have written, reflecting on Herbert’s work and his influence on me. I hope you enjoy reading it. The Broken Altar
21 Consolations
Today is the first anniversary of The Consolations of Writing. To celebrate, and to thank all of you for supporting my blog over the past year, I’ve put together a collection entitled “21 Consolations” – an essay and 20 poems reflecting on and reflecting the comforts of the written word. I hope you like it.Continue reading “21 Consolations”
Apathy, Writer’s Block, and All the Things We Can’t Put to Words
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the willContinue reading “Apathy, Writer’s Block, and All the Things We Can’t Put to Words”
The Vocabulary of Grace: Why Literature Needs God Now More Than Ever
The lady who runs my local second-hand bookstore is always up for a chat. A few weeks ago I popped into the shop with my friend Nat when I saw that Marilynne Robinson’s first novel, Housekeeping, was available for $2. Nat has read more of Robinson’s work than I have, so when the lady inContinue reading “The Vocabulary of Grace: Why Literature Needs God Now More Than Ever”
True Community and the Humility of Being Honest
Here is a piece I have written about the difficulties we feel, especially in church communities, with being honest about how we are feeling. I hope it is helpful. True Community and the Humility of Being Honest
New text message discovery gives fuel to millennium debate
An article in today’s Age Online, reporting the discovery of a 4th century manuscript claiming that Jesus had a wife, annoyed me sufficiently to prompt this short newspaper article of my own. I only hope that all new archeological discoveries are allowed to challenge long-held axioms in the way that the Age has let thisContinue reading “New text message discovery gives fuel to millennium debate”
The Meaning of Spring
In honour of Melbourne’s indecisive weather and the potential end of the souther winter, here is an essay I have written about the poetic implications of spring. The Meaning of Spring
The Priest Who Chuckled in Poetry
This week, Melbourne priest, poet and teacher Father Peter Steele SJ passed away, at age 72, from cancer. Peter taught me poetry in my final year of Literature at the University of Melbourne, and had such a significant influence on me that I have had to write something in honour of him here. Click onContinue reading “The Priest Who Chuckled in Poetry”
Farewell, Ray’s Summer
(Reblogged from Ideas From the North) On Tuesday of the week just passed, Ray Bradbury died at age 91. Being one of my favourite authors and one of the most significant writers of the last century, I feel that he deserves something to be said about him. Much has, I’m sure, been said already, theContinue reading “Farewell, Ray’s Summer”
The Consolations of Writing 