Theology That Bites Back
The West has always beckoned us to come,And so we moved, intent to make our way,At first across a gray Atlantic swellThat we might scrabble hard to stay alive.The land was rich but hard, so we grew hard,And like the land grew rich and prosperous,So that we might grow soft again in leisure.A different West …
When strings are pulled taut, the cello is tuned,The wood holds the wine that is seasoned and old.Dark music poured out and emptied the cask,And rolled in my goblet, rich, tawny and toldHow holiness tastes, how righteousness laughs. You shall be as God, the great dragon had said, Philosophers argue their shapes in the fire …
The great and their pride shall sink to the bottom, And settle in silt on the deep sea bed. But now, before dropped, from the palm of God, Behold . . . the golden age of lead.
Not to worship, but to serve, Not to worship, but to save, Christ wrapped a towel around His waist, And as He knelt He gave A glorious affront To pious expectation here. Peter faltered at the grace, Peter faltered in dismay, Christ knelt to wash the grime and dirt As Peter tried to say His …
Something glittered in the sandy bank. Gull circled noisily, but no one else was there More than a breeze was off the bay, But the clouds were motionless, Unaware of the bite below. Scattered reeds bent back toward the cottages, The early sunlight was bitter still. Sand behind me, forgotten miles, The sand in front …
Descending out of heaven Into Minneapolis, I saw outside the plane A hard, bright autumn. Far below, a parking lot, Crammed with automobiles, Flared with momentary glory Like Hopkins’ shook foil.
Obama floats, Obama leads,Obama nods, the media needsThat man’s apotheosis.Obama lies, Obama drawls,Obama grins, Obama trawlsWith our brand new neurosis. The other guy is John McCain,With not much there to numb the pain,Not even Sarah Palin.His grimaces might pass for smiles,Conservatives would walk for milesTo put this coffin nail in. Elections come, elections go,I vote …
Yesterday New St. Andrews had the great privilege of hosting Chris Wiman, editor of Poetry magazine, as he addressed us all at our weekly Disputatio. His talk and answers during the Q&A were really informative, and the reading he did of some of his poems was just fabulous. Our Aaron Rench has an interview with …
Just finished reading The Trouble With Poetry by Billy Collins (and other poems, the subtitle helpfully adds), and was struck by how metaphor handles are on everything, and how you just need to know how to find them. Most people just look at things right side up, but others — poets, madmen, and Chesterton — …
When strings are pulled taut, the cello is tuned,The wood holds the wine that is seasoned and old.Dark music poured out and emptied the cask,And rolled in my goblet, rich, tawny and toldHow holiness tastes, how righteousness laughs. You shall be as God, the great dragon had said,Philosophers argue their shapes in the fireAnd each …
