“Fulfilled” (Psalm 1)
What is fulfillment? I was recently reminded of this poem—the first thing I ever posted on this site, and probably my favorite of all the poems I have written. It is my attempt to delve into Psalm 1. This poem … Continued
“Prayer Warrior”
One day I had an intense prayer walk. In the image of a George Herbert poem, I felt that I was thundering at heaven. As I thought about it later, I realized that intercessory prayer has shifted as I have … Continued
“A Prayer for Time”
While reading the beautiful prayers of Thomas Cramner in the Book of Common Prayer, I decided to try writing in his style. A Prayer for Time Almighty and Most Merciful God, who holdest all time in thy hands, and bestowest … Continued
“Metaphysical,” a text message poem
Here is a poem first “published” as a text message! After reading Helen Gardner’s introduction to The Metaphysical Poets, I decided to write my “narration” (re-telling in my own words some of what I learned) in verse! Gardner suggested that … Continued
“Believe in Me”
My belief in Jesus does not make him more real! It might, however, make me more real… In April of 2020, living under stay-at-home orders, my daughters and I began the “Quarantine Sonnet” Project. Each day, we each tried to … Continued
“Shrinking”
Feeling humbled as I read about scholars of the humanities in the Renaissance, in this poem I reflected on scholarly ambition and my own self-image. In April of 2020, living under stay-at-home orders, my daughters and I began the “Quarantine … Continued
“Chiasmus”
I had just been teaching my Latin students about chiasm, the literary device that makes a kind of mirror of repeated words, or concepts, or grammatical forms–and often nests the most crucial thing in the very middle. This poem considers … Continued
“Naming Details”
thoughts on the much-maligned study of grammar, and on why humans actually enjoy learning details… In April of 2020, living under stay-at-home orders, my daughters and I began the “Quarantine Sonnet” Project. Each day, we each tried to write a … Continued
“Christ at Study”
I had been reading about medieval meditation, and on Good Friday I imagined Christ’s passion as a form of study. In April of 2020, living under stay-at-home orders, my daughters and I began the “Quarantine Sonnet” Project. Each day, we … Continued
“One Windy Day”
I start this poem remembering a day full of the joy of learning, in graduate school…then reflect on how rare and precious that was in my education, and how I long to see it in my daughters’ days. In April … Continued
“Beginner’s Mind”
Reflecting on how naked it feels to make or learn, compared to the comfort of critiquing and teaching—and how wonderful it is, after all. In April of 2020, living under stay-at-home orders, my daughters and I began the “Quarantine Sonnet” … Continued
“Palm Sunday”
Imagining what it feels like for Jesus to relive that day every year, as his people remember. In April of 2020, living under stay-at-home orders, my daughters and I began the “Quarantine Sonnet” Project. Each day, we each tried to … Continued
“Projects”
Swatting at to-do lists, I imagine a more instinct-driven life. In April of 2020, living under stay-at-home orders, my daughters and I began the “Quarantine Sonnet” Project. Each day, we each tried to write a sonnet, and we posted them … Continued
“Big Name” (#8 in the Psalter Project)
“You are holy…” “I praise your name…” Does it seem like you’ve sung the same words of praise a hundred times? This morning? A villanelle is a poetic form in which two whole lines must be re-used in a strict … Continued
Psalm 7: “Shield” (Psalter Project)
I’ve never used an actual shield…but every day I feel the need of some kind of shielding, and I started this psalm-poem thinking about that need for protection and escape. It moves on, of course, from there through all the … Continued
Psalm 6: “Emergency Room” (Psalter Project)
Some Psalms cry out in pain…we rarely sing those verses in our praise songs or print them on posters or pin them on pinterest, but the songs of God’s people are often full of agony mixed in with faith and … Continued
Psalm 5: “Spinning” (Psalter Project)
“Sweet God, turn to me, I turn to you…” From “wooly thoughts” to “echoes laid straight,” here is my version of Psalm 5, “Spinning.” (My sister Lindsay and I are writing poems based on each of the psalms in order. … Continued
Psalm 4: “Amplify” (Psalter Project)
From “speak softness when I make an ugly noise” to “amplify, great God, turn up the shine”–I love the way psalms move from one emotional place to another, like a river sweeping the reader along. Here is Lindsay’s version of … Continued
Psalm 3: “External Heart” (Psalter Project)
Here is my poem version of Psalm 3. (You might want to start at the beginning of our Psalter Project, or see all the psalms I’ve posted so far.) I am my own worst enemy. God, swarms of fears are … Continued
Psalm 2: “Necks in the Sand” (Psalter Project)
Here is Lindsay’s poetic response to Psalm 2, the next installment in our Psalter Project. (To see all the psalms posted so far, click here.) Why do they stew in their own spleen in a bath that boils but does … Continued
Psalm 1: “Fulfilled” (Psalter Project)
A few years ago, my sister Lindsay and I began writing a “Psalter” together: our own poems based on each of the biblical Psalms in order. I write the odd-numbered psalms, she writes the evens! All kinds of life events … Continued