If I daily give you threads (this twine of which I am comprised) and leave you when I walk away with strands of me from day to day – it should not then be a surprise if, finding my unravelled head emptied of what I’ve flung astray, I must sit still and sew, reprised, whatContinue reading “Restitching”
Category Archives: Poetry
The Practical View (For William Wilberforce)
He bubbled full of divine joy; His picture always smiles. Though overburdened with the world, He danced on Clapham’s green. His house was always full of guests; His table overflowed. He chased his children round the room And coughed a quiet knell. He called for Sunday to consume Our tokenistic hearts. He said his pieceContinue reading “The Practical View (For William Wilberforce)”
Bread in the Springtime (Ninth Sunday After Pentecost)
I. And so we call to Him who gives all things to us, our bread to eat, who brings forth water from the stone. We call to Him to set our eyes not on these passing, fading things but on those things which wait in heaven for those who on earth here wait. II. AndContinue reading “Bread in the Springtime (Ninth Sunday After Pentecost)”
The Marks of Grace
My heart this morning was a sore And wounded thing; I saw it when I rose but did not know it for It only bore the marks of shame. But with no other hearts around, I walked with into the day. It dripped its refuse about the house, Marked my furniture and my clothes AndContinue reading “The Marks of Grace”
All That Was Needed (For Mary and Martha of Bethany)
Tomorrow is the day the Anglican calendar remembers Mary and Martha, the sisters in Bethany who were close friends of Jesus. But tomorrow is a Sunday so I will have another poem to write then, so they can have their poem today. All That Was Needed The hired wailers were doing their work and thoughContinue reading “All That Was Needed (For Mary and Martha of Bethany)”
The Last Friday of July
My friend E., visiting from Kyrgyzstan and doing a day of emergency teaching while here, was chatting to me while I stood in the quadrangle outside the canteen, my duffle coat barely warding off the cold of the day as I did lunchtime yard duty. E. began to express her dislike of the weather; thisContinue reading “The Last Friday of July”
Untitled Poem
I came to the garden and sat for a while to look on the flowers and smell the fresh soil; the air of my contemplation was still and the blossoms and petals were silent. The day was pregnant from seeds of toil and the earth ready-made for the farmers to till, sending in momentary gustsContinue reading “Untitled Poem”
One Son of Thunder (For James, Apostle and Martyr)
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. AndContinue reading “One Son of Thunder (For James, Apostle and Martyr)”
The Triumph of Time
TIME: I that please some, try all; both joy and terror Of good and bad; that makes and unfolds error, Now take upon me, in the name of Time, To use my wings. (William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale) When Perdita, the shepherdess, proves to be a fair princess, we are not at all surprised: sheContinue reading “The Triumph of Time”
Magdala (For the Feast of Mary Magdalene
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, theContinue reading “Magdala (For the Feast of Mary Magdalene”
The Consolations of Writing 