Pail of Cherries

April 23, 2026 For those who don't know, and I'm sure that's a majority of people, April is designated National Poetry Month in the USA. Read about it here: https://poets.org/national-poetry-month-30th-anniversary. In honor of this month, the university library in my city invited some local poets, including me, to do a reading yesterday of some ofContinue reading "Pail of Cherries"

The “Liberal” Leo

April 13, 2026 I found it interesting that this morning’s New York Times chose Trump’s feud with Pope Leo as its leading headline while wars continue to rage around the world, gas prices rise, stock markets fall, and Viktor Orban actually concedes defeat in Hungary. Wish I could ask the editors’ reasoning behind that. MaybeContinue reading "The “Liberal” Leo"

Bonhoeffer Today

April 9, 2026 Today marks the 81st anniversary of the martyrdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was hanged on this day, at age 39, at Flossenburg Concentration Camp just weeks before the end of WWII and Hitler's suicide. Without a jury or witnesses, Bonhoeffer was sentenced to death for his role in assisting Jews in fleeingContinue reading "Bonhoeffer Today"

Peace as Resistance

April 7, 2026 Esther "Etty" Hillesum (15 January 1914 – 30 November 1943) was a Dutch Jewish author of confessional letters and diaries which describe both her religious awakening and the persecutions of Jewish people in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation. In 1943, she was deported and murdered at Auschwitz. Compare her to the sitting President of the United StatesContinue reading "Peace as Resistance"

e.e. cummings and Easter

April 5, 2026: Easter Sunday I've yet to have gathered the courage to write an Easter poem. Maybe one day. In the meantime, here is one (perhaps) by e.e. cummings whose father left his university job to become the pastor of South Congregational Church in Boston, Massachusetts. cummings himself was influenced by both Christianity andContinue reading "e.e. cummings and Easter"

Holy Saturday: A Poem

April 4, 2026: Holy Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in the Christian tradition. In-Between The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his (Jesus’) body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested onContinue reading "Holy Saturday: A Poem"

“Good Friday” by Hayden Carruth

April 3, 2026 This Good Friday as I walk a labyrinth while wrens and phoebes twitter from the still-barren oaks and hickories, I find myself surrounded in thought by all of those being crucified this very day: • Those being held in detention centers across the country, not knowing what the next moment will bring;•Continue reading "“Good Friday” by Hayden Carruth"

Contemplation with Cat

February 21, 2026 In this Lenten season, instead of "giving up," I'm trying to "give to," such as giving time to God in meditation, but sometimes a cat assumes it's a god, too. Contemplation with Cat Dear Cat, who asked you hereinto my time of prayerand up to my empty lap?I did not invite yourContinue reading "Contemplation with Cat"

From Ash to Heart

Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026 "And we are put on earth a little spaceThat we might learn to bear the beams of love."William Blake No matter where we've lived this past year, we have one experience in common:  being knocked off-balance by an American administration that cares only for itself while having our personal freedoms,Continue reading "From Ash to Heart"

A Valentine’s Day Prayer

February 14, 2026 I felt compelled to share a prayer that came across my prayer app, Lectio 365*, this morning, a prayer for those for whom today is a tough day, a prayer that puts real love in perspective, a prayer composed not by me but by the founder of the app, Peter Greig. MayContinue reading "A Valentine’s Day Prayer"