Category Archives: poetry

The Ninth Psalm as Rendered by Laurance Wieder

I stumbled upon this tonight in a book called The Poets’ Book of Psalms, and I really liked it, so I thought I’d share it.  That’s all :)The Ninth PsalmIf I could tell it all,I would say thank youfor the toppled statues,for the dusk of gods sungonly in dead languages,for wild grape vines tangledin theContinueContinue reading “The Ninth Psalm as Rendered by Laurance Wieder”

Devotional

“Devotional”In the morning when I rise give me a hot cup of tea. Burn away the bitterwith a couple dabs of melted butter on a bisquit dripped with honey,or a steamy bowlful of old-fashioned oatmeal, strawberries and brown sugar.If only every day began with all this sweetness.

Peace, Not War – Online and Print Publication

In the last few days I’ve been thinking again about publication.  Unlike my last meditation on posting poems to a blog site, my most-read post to-date, I’ve been thinking about how hard we all work (and how much money we all spend) trying to get our poems published in elite literary journals, like Poetry and the likes. ContinueContinue reading “Peace, Not War – Online and Print Publication”

Balancing the Writer Life with the Mom Life

Last night I wrote a poem for the first time in several months. I go through seasons of creativity – like the seeds I just sowed in the garden yesterday, it takes a while for my ideas to germinate.  Eventually, the seeds pop, the stems poke through the soil, and before you know it, youContinueContinue reading “Balancing the Writer Life with the Mom Life”

Explaining Easter

Explaining Easter for Lydia, my three-year-oldImagine your marshmallow Peeps devouredby your brother without one lick of sticky sweetness, giant chocolate rabbit melted in the sun. Even your mother and father—those great false gods—have eaten every jelly bean.You hold your basket, empty.This is how Good Friday feels, waitingto be taken to the playground all day, thenrain,ContinueContinue reading “Explaining Easter”

Last Words Series, Part Six – "Enough"

Enough“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’When he had said this, he breathed his last.” – Luke 23:46Here I am, my son. Your struggle is over.It was near impossible to keep from turningtoward your cries. I felt each lash,wailed as they drove the nails. I blacked outContinueContinue reading “Last Words Series, Part Six – "Enough"”

Last Words Series – Part Five, "Drink"

Drink“Later, knowing that all was now completed,and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled,Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’” – John 19:28The fount of living waterbellows drought. I wantto lift a ladle, cold and pure, so you could be relieved. But I’m deceived with ease. My cup is sour, dilutethe wine from dirty cisterns. Nothing IContinueContinue reading “Last Words Series – Part Five, "Drink"”

Last Words Series, Part Four – "Fear"

FearI taste the juice of forbidden fruitdripping from Adam’s mouth.And in my hand, the dagger that killed Cain’s brother. My arms are sore from building Babel. Abraham’s fear rolls in my gut.I cling to Sodom as it burns, connivefor the birthright at Isaac’s bedside,stand by as my sons slaughter a city,hear the roar of weepingContinueContinue reading “Last Words Series, Part Four – "Fear"”

Last Words, Part One – "The People Stood Watching"

Last year for Easter, I participated in a project at our church to reflect on the seven stations of the cross and the last seven statements made by Jesus before his crucifixion. I thought maybe I’d share a few of these this year. A couple won’t show up right in the blog because of formattingContinueContinue reading “Last Words, Part One – "The People Stood Watching"”