This is the first in a number of poems that I am writing based around psalms that have been significant throughout my life. I am writing them as part of a memoir project in which I am using the psalms as a way of communicating my spiritual journey over the last few years. I hopeContinue reading “Desert Tears”
Tag Archives: God
Doxology (For Thomas Ken)
Today we remember Thomas Ken, the seventeenth-century British bishop and hymn-writer most famous for writing the hymn commonly known as “The Doxology”, a hymn much-loved to many people and which has had a recent revival in a lot of churches. I’ve based today’s poem around some of the lines of that hymn, in memory ofContinue reading “Doxology (For Thomas Ken)”
Common Prayer: A Sonnet for Thomas Cranmer
Even as a picture graven or painted is but a dead representation of the thing itself, and is without life, or any manner of moving; so be the works of all unfaithful persons before God. They do appear to be lively works, and indeed they be but dead, not availing to the eternal life. (ThomasContinue reading “Common Prayer: A Sonnet for Thomas Cranmer”
The Heavenly Life (For Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Bishop and Missionary)
On the night Saint Aidan died, You dreamt you saw his floating soul Carried as he left this earth; And so you saw the mantel fall From Aidan onto your small shoulders, Saw the see that you would take, Lindisfarne, your home. They say you wandered through the hills The warmth within your strong glanceContinue reading “The Heavenly Life (For Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Bishop and Missionary)”
The Mystery (For Joseph)
Your first thought was, perhaps, an anxious one: A vision of your future, spiraling, Into exclusion and shame; Perhaps, too, somewhere an inkling of guilt. (Have I brought this on myself? Should I have seen the warning signs?) Responsible, faithful up to the last, No doubt your spirit still squirmed. Yet you heeded theContinue reading “The Mystery (For Joseph)”
Festal Garments (For Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Teacher)
Already there is an odour of blessedness upon you, O ye who are soon to be enlightened: already ye are gathering the spiritual flowers, to weave heavenly crowns: already the fragrance of the Holy Spirit has breathed upon you: already ye have gathered round the vestibule of the King’s palace; may ye be led inContinue reading “Festal Garments (For Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Teacher)”
The Three-In-One (For Patrick, Bishop and Missionary)
Today is St Patrick’s Day, a day which, in my part of the world, is an excuse to drink lots of beer, dress in green and orange and wear puffy hats with shamrocks on them. But there is a more meaningful core to this day. Patrick was in fact quite a remarkable man whose honest,Continue reading “The Three-In-One (For Patrick, Bishop and Missionary)”
Qui Habitat Part 5 (Fifth Sunday of Lent)
Today’s poem continues my series for the Sundays of Lent, due to finish next week with Palm Sunday. Each poem draws on the psalm and the Gospel reading for the day, as well as some of the other set readings where appropriate. You can find the readings that it based upon here. Qui Habitat PartContinue reading “Qui Habitat Part 5 (Fifth Sunday of Lent)”
Grace, eight or nine years old
Samuel the priest, leading Israel through a process of repentance and then seeing them defeating their old enemies the Philistines, set up a stone monument where they had been victorious and named it “Ebenezer”, meaning “Stone of Help”, declaring that “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” In the midst of our busy and oftenContinue reading “Grace, eight or nine years old”
The Consolations of Writing 