Category Archives: Lent

40 Days of Mercy: Week 2

In the last decade of his life, Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861) turned to a paraphrasing a number of Biblical psalms in a work known in English by the title “Psalms of David”. Many of his paraphrases take these ancient songs and prayers and apply them to the griefs being experienced by his people underContinue reading “40 Days of Mercy: Week 2”

40 Days of Mercy: Kyrie in the ashes

This Lent, the world worn down by two years of pandemic, war unfolding in Ukraine and hearts anxious and troubled, I am turning to the poems of others to reflect on what it means to cry out for mercy in this time. Today’s poem is from young Ukrainian poet Les Beley, and it is accompaniedContinue reading “40 Days of Mercy: Kyrie in the ashes”

Palm Sunday

We cut banana leaf from our backyard and dressthe table with these fronds for a king.Day is overcast; spirit drizzles withthe quiet acedia of another quarantined day.No procession today, on this or any street;only hearts can fling wide their gates.Yet heart has always been best, been the mostfitting place to worship this king,temples prone toContinue reading “Palm Sunday”