Category Archives: Poetry

The Illusion of Separateness The ancients called it ekstasis,or outside oneself.But does that really happen?Are we ever outside ourselves? Lovers do not live in time—coitus, and then a shift in focus:the clock starts… Glint of sun off a jumbo jetturning … Continue reading →

Bus Poem: My Iranian Gentleman In his soft-spoken, conspiratorial voicehe told me his name,but it flew in one earand out the otherand I failed to ask again.To this day he is: my Iranian gentleman. His jackets were a blend of … Continue reading →

[tanka] deep grasses chokethe broad pathwe used to walkour past is lostin a seamless field of green

Just Asking Questions Change, development, and growthis everywhere we lookin academics, the business world,science and technology,in music, the arts, in history,and in our own evolution from youth to old age. We think nothing of it! And yet, persistently, we are … Continue reading →

NOTE: “Circle of Love” is one of my poems for choir. The words are set to Handel’s “See, The Conquering Hero Comes!” Play this music and sing along: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p1BedwyFKY. Circle of Love We offer communion to a weary world in … Continue reading →

The Way The way eludes the snareof language. It is hard to catch the wheeling birdsscurrying up helixing stairs, but harder still to catch the way with words.The heart that hangs stretched and framedis not the heart of hearts; the … Continue reading →

Micah Micah 5:2-5 The prophet Micah foretells the fallof the corrupt and faithless elite of Jerusalem;the fall and revival of the Kingdom of Judah;the Messiah’s birth in the town of Bethlehem. Because of Bethlehem, we honor Micah.We are mindful that … Continue reading →

[tanka] brainstormingin the corner officeon the fifth floor…the high seriousnessof fall colors

The White Christ Red-bearded, blood-soaked Thor faced offagainst the white Christat the end of the first millennium. Icelanders had to choose.For the pagans, white stood for cowardice,but the heavy hand of King Olaf forced a deal the pagan holdoutscould not … Continue reading →

Love is a Twofer Love is a twofer.When you say you are in loveor you assert the aphorism, God is love,you infer duality. God is the subjectand [something] is the object.The something is the worldand all its inhabitants. There is … Continue reading →

I have been writing new music for our St. John’s choir. The Yoke Matthew 11:28-30 The yoke you wear is the load you bear.Who will make the yoke you wear?The yoke you wear is yours alone.Will you build a yoke … Continue reading →

Agency What does it mean to be the salt of the earth?Salt is a preservative.It is used for seasoning and with healing.Salt is a helping agent. What does it mean to be the leaven?Leaven makes the bread rise.It softens the … Continue reading →

Holy Communion The dove spreads wings of the present and past.Warm thermals lift these wings of time.One wing is us in this sacred place.The other bears souls of every age. Our world was once a lightless void.From that the Lord … Continue reading →