Backward Mutters

  • Time’s Fullness

    Time’s Fullness

    A sonnet for Palm Sunday. You may listen to me read the poem via the player below. Time’s Fullness has comes to Jerusalem Rocking a city who wave palms, give praise; Cry, “Son of David!” shout in unison. “Behold our king! To you Hosannas raise!” This sudden coming, to show…

  • All Leave

    All Leave

    A poem about being left and leaving. You may listen to me read the poem via the player below. They all leave. Every single, last thing, leaves And goes away til there is nothing left; All are consigned to one life and then, death. All of us, all of them,…

  • Your Hand

    Your Hand

    This poem draws its inspiration from Psalm 139. You may listen to me read the poem via the player below. Even there your hand, The hand which you stretched out to deliver me, The hand by which you led your people through the sea And with which you take our…

  • Seeds of Grace

    Seeds of Grace

    A poem about the birds outside my office window. A family of juncos Fly and flit though the branches Of a crepe myrtle outside my window… Up and down from limb to limb Then limb to ground. And back up and around. For some reason, they don’t feed at the feeder…

  • Death and Dust

    Death and Dust

    A poem for Ash Wednesday. I went to burn the palm frondsFor the Ash Wednesday service,But when I looked, there weren’t any.Remember?There were no palms last spring,Nor were there bodies in this building.Here I am left holding the bagOf one more thing taken awayBy this year’s passion play.“Shake it off,”…