Collected Writing: in History, Philosophy and Theology; Poetry, Politics and Commentary, Given in Prose and Verse
The sky is powder blue
The sun, unnaturally bright
A silver disk of light
Melting the few remaining patches of dirty snow
There is a buzz in the air
And birdsong
The feeling of spring, and joy
At its early return
Icicle prisms
Sparrow’s trill, a winter dirge
Light, the rainbow-bridge
#TheBookofSparrows
#Poetry
#Haiku
#Senryu
#Tanka
#Haibun
The prophet promised help, a song of hope floating in the morning light
love for the dandelion
Lilies blooming in the broken asphalt, begging to be considered
broken birds, with wings made of wishes
Saint Stephen by a chest full of arrows, got pinioned to a tree
while a thousand sparrows gathered in his branches
Garden ponds and baths gone dry, water stolen by the sun
cats cry at empty basins, biting at their fleas
Forgive them…the hungry and the homeless, living through the heat and cold
the lean dogs wandering the city
blessed are the meek
#Poetry
#Haiku
#Senryu
#Tanka
#Haibun
#TheBookofSparrows
It is cold outside, but the sun is shining
The sky is striped, blue and white
I can feel the cold coming, seeping through the windows
The sun’s light through wavey glass
Snow clings to the limbs of my tree
Each flake a tiny prism from which the sun light leaps
And there is hope, today in America…there is hope
The scent of garlic and curry the apartment
I made a pot of lentils
For the first time in weeks the air conditioner is silent
The windows are open for a cross breeze
A dappled light comes in through the east windows
Filtered through the green leaves
Kitty is complaining about the taste of medicine in her food
The dry and dusty chondroitin that helps her with her joints
A Homily
John came, and john bore witness to the light
John, born in darkness as all of us are
John saw the light, shing in the deep night
Comforted by its warmth, John felt it first
Feeling it while he was still in the womb
Kicking in the waters, as the light dawned
John was not a man prone to vanity
You would not have seen him chasing the wind
Like a servant, John harvested honey
Faithful to the way, not puffed up with pride
John was a friend and brother to Jesus
The elder cousin of the messiah
Herald and prophet, man of the desert
John turned to us, saying reflect, repent
He came like an angel, with a pure heart
A divine messenger, pointing the way
The way is not in stillness or silence
The way is a path of service and love
He took on the burden and paid the price
John showed us how to stand against power
He came into the world ahead of Christ
Drawing breath while he listened in the womb
The breath he drew was ruha, the spirit
Holy Sophia filled John with wisdom
.
John lived and breathed, washed in the divine flame
Dipping his cup in the fountain of life
Walking with him, by whom all things were made
John’s path was the way of humility
Obedient, unphased by paradox
Born first, and the first to be sacrificed
He lived by the Jordan, serving the light
Not perplexed, or tempted to turn away
He saw in his cousin the end of night
He made a place for him in the desert
He prepared the way as God’s own herald
Ministering to the sick and grieving
Jesus and John. the Son and the herald
Working together in the name of God
Baptizing all into the way of peace
Bathing their flock in the way, in the light
Keeping to their mission even to death
John showed us the way, turn and be blessed!
From the Gospel According to Mark – 2018.06.22
Jennifer is she
Bright as a morning in May
Sensual and sweet
A light in the dark
My warming breeze in winter
February’s love
Freckles, and green eyes
Her flashing smile lights my heart
As the sun in spring
Clear as the bright stream
Swift as the rising moon, cool
In the evening
She listens to me
Sheltering my hopes, and dreams
Believing in me
Two times every day
I look to the clock for luck
It is five thirteen
She is strong, and fierce
Leaning on her when I’m tired
Then she carries me
Touching me with light
Vulnerable, undaunted
Speaking with her tears
Six years of loving
Kind and caring Valentine
Jennifer is she
Golden light shining
Warmly through the window, home
A mother’s welcome
Fire burns in the hearth
Safe haven in a cold world
Return to the start
Tender and caring
Family is good company
Let go of the world
Dream, and sleep at ease
Warm milk, honey-sweet, and pure
Cinnamon and clove
Eternal mother
Sets the troubled heart at ease
Mother of us all
I love you, he says
Confused, stumbling over words
Prayerful supplicant
I seek clarity
Whispers the poet, and wisdom
She smiles invitingly
Red lips part slightly
Revealing sharp teeth, bright-white
Like diamonds flashing
Lead me to the truth
By your beauty, and goodness
Your willing servant, I
He says, withdrawing
Drugged as the lotus eaters
Hallucinating
She opens her eyes
Deep-blue pools, like cobalt fire
Burning without light
She embraces him
The wretched poet, victim
Drowning in the night
The sun pours through glass
The light on my face draws me
From my unconscious
Clear, the rising sun
Brushing away the blue night
With its warming rays
