August 2022 – Prayers, Poems, and Christian Ponderings

Relic of Memory

Lough Neigh is found in the middle of N. Ireland. It is the largest fresh water lake in the British Isles. In recent years it has become the “mecca” for Game of Thrones fans who visit the many sites in N. Ireland filmed as part of this epic series. The N. Ireland tourist Board hasContinue reading “Relic of Memory”

When the folks have gone.

The poet and priest, the late R.S. Thomas is a favorite of mine. His strong faith and his honest doubt, shape many of his poems. What does happen when the folks have gone, and dust settles on the empty church with only the priest remaining to clear up, to pause and perhaps even to pray?Continue reading “When the folks have gone.”

Seated at a table!

On the inside cover of Rupert Shortt’s biography of Rowan Williams the following is stated “Rowan Williams is a complex, controversial, widely admired figure, one who towers intellectually over almost all his predecessors as Archbishop of Canterbury” For many years he has fascinated me with his wisdom, his questioning, his doubt, his convictions and hisContinue reading “Seated at a table!”

“The last set out the soonest did arrive”

The hot days of summer continue, and I am enjoying moments to leaf through some books which have not been opened for a very long time. The Selected Poems of John Dryden, is one such book. Dryden (1631-1700) not only a poet but a satirist, translator and playwright and first Poet Laureate in 1668. HeContinue reading ““The last set out the soonest did arrive””

Snowflake

Searching for a snowflake in Barcelona might at first seem a strange, if not impossible, thing to do. Yet that is exactly what the ever popular poet Billy Collins attempted many years ago. Snowflake was the worlds only known albino gorilla and he resided at Barcelona Zoo. Collins writes the poem about Snowflake entitled Searching.Continue reading “Snowflake”

The Runner

I stumbled across the following poem, The Runner, by Allen Grossman. As I read it over and over again his words made a deep impression within me and caused me to dwell for a while and ponder his lines. In trying to discover the nature of this poem, Grossman writes “My poetry is a directContinue reading “The Runner”