Rachel cries out for her children, Cries and cries; they are no more. Her voice is heard from Ramah crying, Mother weeping for her lost. In the sound of mothers crying, Hear the strains of mercy sing. Hear the One who weeps as children Fall at Herod’s blow. No cry falls faint before Him; preciousContinue reading “Cry For Mercy (For the Holy Innocents)”
Category Archives: Poetry
Logos (For St John the Evangelist)
In the beginning was the Word It was with God; the Word was God And through Him were all things made And nothing made without Him made And this Word came and became flesh Took on our flesh, this Word made flesh And dwelt among us, God with us This Word made flesh, God ofContinue reading “Logos (For St John the Evangelist)”
Fall (For St Stephen, Deacon and Martyr)
Fall on your knees: He sits at the Father’s right hand, and your best, Your feeblest efforts to plant Him in soil, Bind Him to laws, trap Him in stone, Can never restrain Him. Fall to your knees. Bend your stiff necks: His story has always exposed your worst hubris, Taking you into deserts toContinue reading “Fall (For St Stephen, Deacon and Martyr)”
The Lord Our King (Christmas Day – The Birth of our Lord)
Christmas Day has arrived and so Advent, with all its joyful and fraught expectation, is over. But we still wait for the final coming of our King. Let this poem help us to fix our eyes on Him this Christmas. And a merry Christmas to you all from The Consolations of Writing! The Lord OurContinue reading “The Lord Our King (Christmas Day – The Birth of our Lord)”
Imperceptible Arms
When every force of hell drags with its hooks And all the voices lie and shout and scream That all is lost and all has died; When knees buckle under the strain And the motion of praying is not prayer at all, Only the dull screams of something on fire; When the words that weContinue reading “Imperceptible Arms”
The Scandal of Immanuel
A couple of years ago I wrote my first Advent poem, now something that I do each year. It’s probably one of my favourites of the poems that I’ve written, so I thought I would share it with you this Christmas Eve. It seems particularly fitting to post it on this site, which has beenContinue reading “The Scandal of Immanuel”
The Lord Our Saviour (Fourth Sunday of Advent)
We all like sheep have gone astray, We wayward ones, darkened and small. Our shepherd comes, as bright as day… His brightness gives our dirt away – Will he judge us as we fall? We all like sheep have gone astray… No, he comes – the prophets say – To feed, to heal the woundsContinue reading “The Lord Our Saviour (Fourth Sunday of Advent)”
Faith and Sight (For St Thomas, Apostle and Martyr)
Scepticism is a degree of unbelief; equally therefore it is a degree of belief. It may be a degree of faith. (Christina Rossetti, Time Flies: A Reading Diary) I cannot place my hand in Your side; I cannot touch Your scars; I cannot bow at Your nail-pierced feet; My Lord and my God – IContinue reading “Faith and Sight (For St Thomas, Apostle and Martyr)”
The Lord Our Stronghold (Third Sunday of Advent)
Sing, daughter; Your enemies come across the hills Resplendent in all of their power, But they will not come near to you; They will balk at this fortress. Dance, Israel; The battle is not over, yet The heralds run across the hills, The message of the victory bright In their hearts to tell you. Rejoice,Continue reading “The Lord Our Stronghold (Third Sunday of Advent)”
Dark and Precious, the Night (For John of the Cross, Mystic and Teacher)
I have known this night, beyond my day-time Clutching at my heart and hope; I have known the anguish of the night-time, Dark unfolding, clutching me; I have known the hope of loving fingers Reaching out with dawn to me; I have known the mustard seed of morning And hope’s smallest glimmers; I have seenContinue reading “Dark and Precious, the Night (For John of the Cross, Mystic and Teacher)”
The Consolations of Writing 