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Category Archives: poetry
Hard of hearing
Tender words shouted at my father; love rendered hard in his hearing.
PTSD Jesus
When he was raised, he bore the marks, which must mean he remembered. Then does each adulterous kiss make him wince at its betrayal; each flash of the needle, of the knife make him flinch? Does he recoil at the … Continue reading
How to read a palm
Examine the heart; is it sappy, or made of stone? Trace the veins that indicate the wisdom of Solomon, or the mercurial folly of man. Follow the lines of travel: do they cross? If the life line looks long enough, break off the branch, … Continue reading
Dry Bones
I cried so long my very bones were dry; I couldn’t raise my head, lay loose-limbed, sunken. I heard a voice cry, “Prophesy!” My body jumped, of its own volition, to attention, knocking the stale breath out of me with … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, sermon preparation
Tagged Ezekiel 37:1-14, Valley of Dry Bones
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Blind
He sent me away. I don’t know why, having shared with me his spit and mud, he wouldn’t lead me to the pool, cup the water in my hand; he didn’t see the wonder through. If he had, the first … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, sermon preparation
Tagged Jesus, John 9:1-41, man born blind, miracle
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The well woman
“Give me that water,” she said; “no more drudgery of trudging to the well.” He fixed her with a look so keen she felt the bucket of her belly tip over; all told she was empty, and bottomless. The water … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, sermon preparation
Tagged Jesus, John 4, living water, Samaritan woman, woman at the well
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Born again
There are no shadows at high noon, or at night, but Nicodemus’ brother is crepuscular, sneaking out in the gray dusk and slinking home at dawn. You will know him by his eyes, blood-red, searching, wildly, for the womb, the last … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, sermon preparation
Tagged alcoholism, crepuscular, john 3, Nicodemus, whisky, year a lent 2
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Transfiguration
Once upon a mountaintop I saw, and having seen could not unsee, forget the white light of a soft robe rendered diamond sharp; its bright folds scratched my eyes. For an instant only, looking up, I saw his face, caught … Continue reading
Seasonal affair
The seagulls are returning from wherever it is that seagulls go when the lake, luminous lover, has frozen them out, but they seem chastened; they sound subdued, touch her gingerly, testing the waters.
Crib Goch, and other melodramatic metaphors
On a knife edge, the threat of falling shrouded in a misty pall, each step a battle of will over fear. Others stride across a broad thoroughfare; I snarl at their sunny backs; gravity has grappled me to the rock.
over the water 