Hog Stew, Krispy Kremes, and Ann Voskamp The quicksand tried to swallow me. Then the train came and an elephant held out his trunk. When I grasped it, it wiggled into a rainbow’d snake that flung me into the red Corvette convertible in Canadian National auto carrier #1000 graffiti’d with gifts. We snaked our […]
Still Saturday: Murmurs
i find myself thirsty for plain sounds that whisper, glory. sure words resonate where i can hear, once again, God moving through broken lines that murmur with tenderness. but at the heart of poetry, silences. ~Laure Krueger as quoted by L.L. Barkat in God in the Yard In the stillness, Sandy […]
God, Are You In . . . ?
At the end of chapter 12 (“Hospitality”) in God in the Yard, L.L. Barkat suggests a writing exercise. Begin with a simple jotting of the objects and people around you . . . Choose just one of the images and make a second list, focused particularly on the item’s attributes . . . Next, try […]
One Word Less For Lent 2015 – 20
L.L. Barkat is good at dealing dares. Last night it was to use two key phrases in a single post. I think she mentioned something about cookies. I may have even heard the word, “chocolate.” But as an “official” mischievous barista for Tweetspeak Poetry, how could I ignore her–even for just a cup […]
The Sounds of Silence
I’ve tried to write to the sound of music, but it doesn’t usually work well for me. I create better in silence, although there really isn’t such a thing. I know this because when I’m silent I hear stuff. Stuff like: the pit-pit-pit-pitta-pit-pit-pit of ice melting from the eaves the song of the chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee the distant whoosh […]
Poetry: A Path to Intimacy by L.L. Barkat
I had no clue how to categorize my blog when I first joined The High Calling network. L.L. Barkat was the managing editor back then, and she channeled me into Culture. Culture? Are you kidding? Really? I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know how much that one small act encouraged me. Then I lived with God […]
Counting Down to Easter 2014: 6 Words
In silence we’re not in control. Word Count: 6 Today’s Reading: James 1 – 5 Don’t forget: On May 1 we start our study of Making Manifest by Dave Harrity. Also… today is the official launch day for L.L. Barkat’s book, Love, Etc.: Poems of Love, Laughter, Longing and Loss. I’ve shared excerpts here, here, […]
40 Words of Lent 2014: Day 32 (still saturday)
Morning Prayer This is the day, let it be the day of the poem today, today, today for my loves who I care for and who You care for more than I ever could because, of course, You are God. ~L.L. Barkat in Love, Etc.: Poems of Love, Laughter, Longing & Loss […]
40 Words of Lent 2014: Day 25 (still saturday)
“And so the truth is that as much as we love to be alone, we want to be together. It is the paradox of the poem, playing out in our very life. The poem is most usually written in solitude.” ~ From “Purple Bottle Journal” in Love. Etc.: Poems of Love, Laughter, Longing, & Loss […]
40 Words of Lent 2014: Day 23
Lingual “Sometimes I wonder about the origin of words. This one, for instance: palpable. Can you feel it? Did someone wake up one morning and find it had appeared on his tongue, an errant (but perfect) leftover from a dream?” Word Count: 40 (including title) ~ L.L. Barkat in “Lingual” from Love, Etc.: Poems of […]
