In addition to writing my own poems, I also think about and comment on the poetry of others. I also write about spirituality in general.
Featured Image Credit: Kathe Kollwitz, "The Widow," print, 1921 On Sunday, we continued to write laments in the style of the ancient Israelites. As I said in the last post, the genre of Biblical lament has five basic parts: invocation; honest complaint; expressions of confidence; petition; and praise. In today’s post, I’ll talk about honest … Continue reading Laments & Honest Complaint
This Lent we are writing laments, as many of us feel that the entire world is lamenting, crying out to God in pain, uncertainty, and suffering. We are studying lament as a Biblical genre, and shaping our own lamenting to fit that genre. Trying to write in a poetic form that emerged in a very … Continue reading Laments & Invocations
A friend asked me for my definition of hope, and I found myself talking about covenant. Hope is the love of neighbor and the world that keeps you going, despite all of the reasons for despair. During an interfaith panel that I sat on a student asked how the panelists different traditions maintained hope in … Continue reading “A Psalm” by Thomas Merton
A few weeks ago, I received a Chick tract in the mail. It was delivered to my home in a handwritten envelope with no return address. The little booklet inside contained a smug, homophobic comic in which Jesus was portrayed as offering love through the medium of hate. One of my colleagues at St. Stephen’s … Continue reading To You Be Your Way, and To Me Mine
Florilegium, or "little flowers," were small sayings from scripture or from saints and mystics that were illuminated and placed in Medieval prayer books. I drew this image in my sketchbook (and drawing for me is a form of prayer) using India ink. I don't pencil things in first, I just try to cooperate with the … Continue reading A Little Flower from St. Teresa
KPB Stevens 