When you are able, bend your knees, when you cannot, make intercession in your mind, ‘at evening and at morning and at midday’. (St Ephraim the Syrian) From the rising of the sun – whatever morning reveals – to the setting of the same – You remain. What ruins lie at our feet – whateverContinue reading “Damascus Road Prayers: Saphro (Morning Prayer)”
Category Archives: Poetry
Bulletproof Part 2
And, in early morning, before the suburb rightly wakes, a shot is fired straight into the law. When cars arrive to learn for the day, there is tape and blue-and-white cars mark the place where safety cannot go just yet. First impressions: a colleague mentions ISIS, and though a wry smile suggests irony, beneath theContinue reading “Bulletproof Part 2”
Bulletproof
Reading Italo, I see Italian youths preparing to swim while il Duce prepares for war. At home, on our couch, while afternoon leisure blends with our tea, a reporter speaks to a background of song: Australia may soon be under attack. The words overlap with piano and strings and my mind hears, I am titanium.
Damascus Road: Pre-War
In Damascus, people whisper when out in public. When a waiter arrives at a table, people stop talking… Then he said what I kept hearing over and over on this trip: “Syrians cannot do this to other Syrians.” (Janine di Giovanni, “Seven Days in Syria”) In the days before spring burst in war, some stillContinue reading “Damascus Road: Pre-War”
Damascus Road: Paris Interlude
Now it happens in places with names we know: near streets we have walked, in stadiums and concert halls, in coffee shops, where violence never breathed before, where we were safe. Now we look for signs of links to Syria, to al-Assad, ISIL, and cells which fire. Nothing has prepared us, yet to others thisContinue reading “Damascus Road: Paris Interlude”
Damascus Road: Breach
For the occasions past and present, when sons and daughters of the Catholic Church have sinned by action or omission against their Orthodox brothers and sisters, may the Lord grant us forgiveness. (Pope John Paul II, May 2001) I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. (Nicene Creed) The year the towers fell, John PaulContinue reading “Damascus Road: Breach”
Damascus Road Prayers: Lilyo (Midnight Prayer)
Behold all that are asleep, awake and rise to sing praise… (From Psalm 148, Midnight Prayer liturgy, Syriac Orthodox Church) Could we have seen it coming? Was our slumber too deep? Midnight’s for sleeping, yet You do not sleep, nor did You sleep as boundaries changed and names were rearranged. You did not sleep asContinue reading “Damascus Road Prayers: Lilyo (Midnight Prayer)”
Damascus Road: Cradle, Body, Light
Your garments glisten, my brethren, as snow;—and fair is your shining in the likeness of Angels. (St Ephraim the Syrian, “Hymn for the Baptised”) You are the light of the world; you are the body of Life. The persecutor kicked you; you kick within yourself, yet you remain – kept, preserved; you cannot be hidden. You are the beatenContinue reading “Damascus Road: Cradle, Body, Light”
Damascus Road Prayers: Sootoro (Prayer before retiring to bed)
While my body silent lies, May Thy power keep vigil; Let my sleep in Thy presence Be like the rising incense. (St Ephraim the Syrian). What can we offer? The day is proud in its confidence; night is helpless. If they come, our shelters are weak, our bags packed, our feet ready – yet theContinue reading “Damascus Road Prayers: Sootoro (Prayer before retiring to bed)”
Damascus Road: No location
No flights to Damascus and if there were Safety would fly in the face of Intention. Where knowledge is danger, is ignorance bliss? I cannot walk Straight Street and know the vision that blinded Saul, or see the home where scales fell from well-meaning eyes. That much is past; no flights can take me whereContinue reading “Damascus Road: No location”
The Consolations of Writing 