Readily it comes to me,Easily, like a skin I slip into,Judiciously chosen for comfort.Even when unsought, it sitsClose by, ready to offer itself.Take nothing for granted,It whispers. Question all motives.Overt or hidden, it never leaves,Never leaves me be. Some days, slow days, it seemsEasy-going as though, for that moment, it mightNot bother anyone. Trickster.Sly thing.Continue reading “Unmasking Acrostic”
Category Archives: Poetry
Christ is risen?
He is risen indeed, and the children, certain of thisrecurrent event, rise at first opportunity of dawn, to greet a table laid for the event, the celebration of miniature chocolate tombs, lefthollow to declare, “He is not here! He has risen, justlike He said He would.” But we sleep-weary grown-ups rub eyes, ask,“Really?” in ourContinue reading “Christ is risen?”
“This Teeming Mess of Glory” now available
It’s officially here! I’m delighted to announce that my new book “This Teeming Mess of Glory” is now available for purchase online from Wipf and Stock, and coming to other online retailers soon. Also, don’t forget to register for the book launch on Saturday 29th March, 12:30pm Melbourne time. You can join in person ifContinue reading ““This Teeming Mess of Glory” now available”
A sneek peek at my new book
It’s only about a month until my new collection of poetry, This Teeming Mess of Glory, comes out with Wipf & Stock (Resource Publications). Although the process from getting it accepted to publication has been remarkably short, this book has more than fifteen years in the making. It comprises several poems from my unpublished collectionContinue reading “A sneek peek at my new book”
Advent 2: Such bright morning
This morning’s church service began with words that we would never associate normally with Advent: the beautiful closing words of Zephaniah 3, with their image of a God who rejoices over us with singing. But they only seem out of place in Advent if we see the end point of Advent to be Christmas. IfContinue reading “Advent 2: Such bright morning”
Advent 1: Boughs bent with thickset fruit
Every Advent, living in the southern hemisphere, my family and I gather in the abundant harvest of plums that our various plum trees grow. It’s become something of an Advent tradition, where decorating the house to mark the season is accompanied by also clambering through the often thorny branches to separate what the birds haveContinue reading “Advent 1: Boughs bent with thickset fruit”
Sisyphus, Niggle and the Resurrection
Earlier this year, for no apparent reason, I started writing a series of poems in which the mythical Greek king Sisyphus has conversations with various historical and fictional characters. I was probably inspired by teaching Albert Camus to my Year 11 Literature class, who made the figure of Sisyphus into a powerful metaphor of humanityContinue reading “Sisyphus, Niggle and the Resurrection”
Didymus: An Easter poem for the Doubting Thomas in us all
Having grown accustomed to my garden’sentropy, its law of diminishingreturns, I saw no reason why this morningshould be any different, less barren.For years this corner had yielded nothingsave failed rhubarb, withered silverbeet.This cycle of death, I reasoned, should repeatuntil soil should die and sun should shrink.My friends reported miracles; I smiledin vain solidarity – atContinue reading “Didymus: An Easter poem for the Doubting Thomas in us all”
Poem published in Poems for Ephesians
I’m thrilled to have my new poem “Dianoia” featured as this week’s poem in the McMaster Divinity College online journal, Poems for Ephesians. The journal is edited by poet D.S. Martin, whose work with the Poiema Poetry Series I’ve admired for some time. It’s an incredible honour to have my poem featured alongside some bigContinue reading “Poem published in Poems for Ephesians”
Christmas Garden
Today, memories of lockdown withunseasonal cold, semi-constant rain.The virus still with us, like Jacob we are remindedof the limp that must attend the blessing.Yet we too have wrestled with Immanuel; Hehas wrestled also, knowing everyvirus, every locked-down heart.So tinsel and bauble can sparkle withoutkitsch or fraudulent claim. He is with us.On no day does thisContinue reading “Christmas Garden”
The Consolations of Writing 