praise – Page 3 – The Consolations of Writing

Thanksgiving

This year I wrote a poem for my birthday called “Thanksgiving“, based around Psalm 116. In response to a request from one of my readers, I ended up setting the poem to music and recently recorded it with my friend Dave doing vocals. On this second last day of the year it seems a fittingContinue reading “Thanksgiving”

Earth’s Carol (After Luci Shaw’s “Some Christmas Stars”)

One final poem for Advent, this one inspired by Luci Shaw’s “Some Christmas Stars“. Merry Christmas everyone. May it be a blessed time remembering the wonder of God made flesh. Earth’s Carol The stars make songs in silent sway, The roosters wait for newborn day, And I in brokenness make way To sing the songsContinue reading “Earth’s Carol (After Luci Shaw’s “Some Christmas Stars”)”

With reverent fear

In this you greatly rejoice, though for now Your life flits by, empty at times, sometimes glad. And in these days, though you furrow your brow, The breeze on your face can still lift up the sad, And music is sweet, and the grace that is seen Falls likewise on righteous, unrighteous, Both blesses theContinue reading “With reverent fear”

Dusk Flower

Head dense with things beyond knowing I turn and see a fiery flower dragon-fruit-like atop green leaves swaying in the dusk and walking by I turn out of myself to praise

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)”

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)”