Jeffrey Smart painted this dying day: burnt orange in floating smokestack steam, needle-lights stretching in fluorescent dream, the sojourn of light sinking in silent sway. Daytime paints its canopy away and minutes pass in inches as we glean each moment, weigh each instant gram by gram. Apologies buy flowers; much to say, yet time isContinue reading “Northbound at dusk”
Tag Archives: sonnet
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas
For most people, Christmas is now over. The supermarkets are already stocking hot cross buns. But in the traditional church calendar, today is the last day of the season of Christmas – a season lasting twelve days, as we remember in the old song. Why remember Christmas for twelve days instead of one? If nothingContinue reading “On the Twelfth Day of Christmas”
Shoots and Stumps
“At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.” (Job 14:7) And new life sprouts where old life is cut down: See little shoots burst forth from severed trunk; The earth is singing where its joy was sunk; The smallestContinue reading “Shoots and Stumps”
Christmas Monday
Well: perhaps, you went to church the day before, Heard Jesus hailed as promise kept, as wise Old Simeon and Anna wept and saw The saving one, a babe before their eyes. Perhaps you picked some turkey from your teeth And thought of all the washing to be done, The relatives all gone, so nowContinue reading “Christmas Monday”
Christmas Candle: Christmas is Light
The day comes and goes: families meet; food’s eaten; As tradition has it, rain comes at night. What then? Police patrol the festive season; Roads are blocked in case the Christmas sprite Has rendered some of us unsafe to drive. So wait. The moment passes, and too soon The chance will leave as quick asContinue reading “Christmas Candle: Christmas is Light”
Fourth Candle: Advent is Trusting
See clockwise how the candle-steps arise, New wick ablaze as old wicks stand beside. Some rise in hope with freshness in their eyes, Some simply stand; His Nonetheless abides In hearts that quicken, hearts of smouldering wick. Though Zion is not tall, though nations scoff, The small, the humble, now are tall. Come quick! TheContinue reading “Fourth Candle: Advent is Trusting”
Third Candle: Advent is Rising
Rejoice. The third candle, pink and fresh with life, Alights and sparkles while the hope grows long. Rejoice: Advent is rising; though the strife Of ways unprepared may hurt our knees, the strong Will hold the weak and walk. Advent is stretching The stiff joints of silence. Advent is latent Yet stirring with noise; AdventContinue reading “Third Candle: Advent is Rising”
Second Candle: Advent is Slowing
One candle grows short, a second descends, And three others wait for the rising of light. Wicks burn down and dwindle, yet hope still appends The longing of prayers in the slow Advent night. In the day, though the shouting of sun may shut out The lamenting of captives, yet watch in the night, ForContinue reading “Second Candle: Advent is Slowing”
First Candle: Advent is Waiting
Advent is not simply Christmas extended: Calendar flaps decked with chocolate each day; Shops tinsel-lined as though God intended The season to dazzle our wallets away. Advent is not for the first-fruits of commerce, Nor is it for month-long pre-parties and drinks, And not for fluoro-lit reindeers dispersed In gardens, despite what the suburbs mayContinue reading “First Candle: Advent is Waiting”
Kingdom
The teachers of the law deceive, devour; The humble king is quizzed on His own law. The pure in heart see God; the kingdom’s poor Inherit what the rich lose with their power. Great David’s greater Son knows that His hour Is soon to come; He knows the loving score Composed and tuned by Father’sContinue reading “Kingdom”
The Consolations of Writing 