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Anyone for Cricket?

I continue to amuse, if not embarrass, my sons with my ideas as to how baseball could be made into an interesting game! However, before I make my rules changes public I would do well to look again at the English game of cricket which can take 5 days to play and end in aContinue reading “Anyone for Cricket?”

“a silence in which another voice may speak”

Mary Oliver’s poems abound in their simplicity and in their calling attention to notice what is there right in front of us. Throughout much of her poetry there is brevity and beauty. Her daily walks in the woods or along the shoreline never seemed to fail to give her words to put on paper. TheContinue reading ““a silence in which another voice may speak””

Westminster Bridge

As the eyes of the world focus on London and Westminster Abbey for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, we shall drown in the commentary of this moment and of all those other moments of history featuring the Monarchy. I recall at the age of 6 or 7 (1963?) walking with my whole primary school,Continue reading “Westminster Bridge”

Buoyant, Buoyed, and Basking.

Continuing my theme of water here is a poem by Scott Cairns. I have not visited Greece or the Aegean sea, but this turtle might persuade me otherwise! Enjoy! Sleepwalking on Water No boatman, no boat, not muchsense of direction beyondelsewhere, beyond I must needsget me hence. Late in the day,I had stepped once moreContinue reading “Buoyant, Buoyed, and Basking.”

Fountain

For those of us who over the years have been hanging around churches, we are aware that Baptismal Fonts can come in all shapes and sizes. The placement and size of the font expresses a theology of understanding of this sacred sacrament. Listen carefully to the words of Shaw’s poem. Ponder each and every line.Continue reading “Fountain”

Water

Labor Day marks the end of summer and with it comes the closure of our public swimming pools! Throughout these hot days of summer the open air pools in our neighborhoods and in our city parks have been a place of much refreshment of body and spirit! Although these past weeks have reminded us ofContinue reading “Water”

“tie the poem to a chair with rope”

Billy Collins reminds us, lest we forget, that a poem once written and placed on a page, is in a sense open game! The poet cannot patrol the poem allowing only this or that to be what was intended. Ponder all those pages written by way of explanation to some of the poems of ourContinue reading ““tie the poem to a chair with rope””

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!”