Sonnet for St. Francis Though Francis bore the marks of Jesus’ pain, he walked the roads in simple joy and danced. He cast aside the robes of merchant gain, embracing poverty as life enhanced. A fearsome wolf at his request grew tame – for animal and town a happy end. He preached to birds andContinue reading “Sonnet for St. Francis”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Making Space for the God of the Cosmos
Making Space for the God of the Cosmos For the patronal festival at St. Michael and All Angels, Bridgewater SA What does it take to see the stars? Our gaze is settled on the ground. Those minute pinpoints in the night are blazing suns immensely far beyond us, yet our city lights have dimmed them,Continue reading “Making Space for the God of the Cosmos”
Praying My Age
When shadows lengthen, and things that hide in shadows lurk, be to me the shaft of light that gilds me in surprise. Colour my sky. When evening darkens, and landmarks blur within the murk, be to me the eyes of owl, that guide a seeking glide. Charm me to fly. When fog confuses, and everyContinue reading “Praying My Age”
Pitching Our Tents: Poetry of Hospitality
(Barbara Messner has a poem in this book, and would like to encourage people to read it and to contribute to the project it supports. The following is a description prepared by the editors:)“Pitching Our Tents: Poetry of Hospitality is a chapbook edited by Maren Tirabassi and Maria Mankin in support of Peace Cathedral inContinue reading “Pitching Our Tents: Poetry of Hospitality”
Anxiety
Anxiety Anxiety hops like a toad in my guts: it swims in my stomach and climbs up my throat. Like seagulls, it splatters my hopes with its buts; it circles my living like wall or like moat. But if it’s like toad, should I kiss it and see if it will turn royal and makeContinue reading “Anxiety”
Pentecost
Pentecost Acts 2:1-21 (written 2005) The flames still strike, though the walls we hide behind for fear of fear and fire are more opaque, the cracks papered over with copies of The Times, The Age, The Advertiser, and Sunday Mail. It’s hard to speak an unknown tongue in such a spate of foreign news. TheContinue reading “Pentecost”
From Autumn to Winter
From Autumn to Winter In middle May the seasons shift and winter looms in one bleak week while leaves still fall and twirl and drift. The south wind chills my wrinkled cheek and stirs the leaves to swirl and lift. I stand to watch them sifting down: some join the scatter on the ground, theirContinue reading “From Autumn to Winter”
Jesus Appears to his Disciples
Jesus Appears to his Disciples Luke 36b-48, Easter 3 They felt a surge of joy to see him there,but they were disbelieving, wondering still.What contradictory creatures humans are!We dare not enter fully into joyfor fear of the relapse, the dismal clunkthat brings us back to earth and dust to dust.We’d rather shrink to temper joyContinue reading “Jesus Appears to his Disciples”
Voices from Good Friday
Lament of Judas Didn’t the others hear him say I was the one, do what I must. That was my signal to obey all I had dreamed of on the way. “He is our king,” the crowds had cried. He looked at me. He named the hour. He could have said the sovereign word callingContinue reading “Voices from Good Friday”
