Mary said
‘Here am I the handmaid of the Lord
let it be with me according to your word.’

there are handmaids
and then there are handmaids
what you make of them
their choices and consequences
depends upon the tale
how you choose to read it, or tell it
child-rearing or parenting
a decision freely made
adventure however challenging
willingly undertaken
or 'choice' that is no choice
subjection by culture, law or force
coerced, imposed, exploited
a baby factory
to be used, used up, discarded

some things don't change
roller-coaster  hormones and emotions
****** changes, welcome or not
the hours and pains of labour
post-partum complexity
the what and how of this child
sleep-deprivation, exhaustion
hopes, fears, love, hate, anxiety
and all the pains of letting go
whether compelled, forced
or because that's what must be
growing into who they should become

said to Mary, said to all mothers
'a sword will pierce your own soul too'


The Annunciation
25thMarch 2025

text without context
almost meaningless
used or misused
to justify choices
actions, inaction or
passive disengagement
from circumstances
of what has been
what might be
what is

'into your hands
I commend my spirit'
words from the cross
almost Jesus' last
his ending sounding
like failure, horror amidst
heart-break, disbelief
and yet

and yet
the words quoted
carry greater meaning
of vision incarnate, enacted
'for you have redeemed me
O Lord God of truth'
no ending here but resilience
persistence, fulfilment
and in God's good time
doors breaking open
of future hope as
the Psalmist
writes


Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
29th March 2025
following Psalm 31

heated till the dross is burnt away
the refiner's fire of love and holiness
furnace of hearts, minds and spirits
from which emerges soul gold
moulded, crafted, burnished
designer's plan revealed

but who am I
and what's my life
how to assess my being
my motives and actions tested
against the yardstick, the plumbline
of what's good and godly, just and true
all that's of self-giving love and compassion
which lies deep rooted in the heart of being
the nature, character, purposes of God

just a little something to ponder
to explore, with which to wrestle
as 'I commune with my heart in the night;
my spirit searching for understanding"


Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
31st March 2025
following Psalm 77.6

tectonic normality
fractures, crumbles, falls
disconcertingly rearranges itself
the ground beneath my feet undone
all my expectations and certitudes
the very heart of being, my feel for it
solidity ebbs and flows, liquefaction
sure foundations tsunami swept
certainties overwhelmed
ruptured, erased
gone

temptation
to stack up the debris
rebuild as best as may be
from ruins some semblance
of what was, had been before
clinging to that cherished past
dug from memory's museum
while gathering the shards
too hard to contemplate
metamorphic future
outwith engagement
unknown, unsafe, risk too far
not to be trusted, and yet
entirely inevitable

change
adaptation
evolve or die
as always it was
and forever will be
normals old to new
despite protestations
and attempts to ignore
so in the flux, the vortex
where is certainty found
to what can I hold fast
that endures forever
in the maelstrom
the crucible
me


Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
4th April 2025
following Psalm 102.12-13

'For you are the God who takes no pleasure in wickedness; 
no evil can dwell with you'.
Psalm 5.4



this is better than that
more truthful, more honest
has more integrity, is more just
more loving, more merciful
has more compassion
gives more hope
trusts more

all day, every day
we make judgements
rarely ever polarities, absolutes
at the ends of the spectrum
I decide between nuances
my chosen subtleties
of distinction

how then to navigate
the spheres of earth and heaven
my fallibility facing the holiness of God
exposed to his unambiguous call for
purity, goodness, self-giving love
to which I can only ever aspire
in my broken inadequacy

yet time and again
stories of hope surface
those expecting condemnation
finding forgiveness and mercy
an encouragement to start over
not where I am that matters
but the course I set


Monday of the Third Week of Lent
24th March 2024

begun, a roman funeral
tale of two cities, very different
one commerce, politics, tourism
carryies on with its usual energy
another surrounding St Peter's
the square, basilica, vatican
concentrating on preparations
ceremonies for handling a death
crowds forming, quiet and not so
police and officials keeping order
presence needed yet not required
tented Croce Rossa clinics arrive
media sets up shaping stories to tell
techies fixing screens and speakers
for those gathering too many to see
overwhelming in inevitable bustle, yet
quietening hush, sensed anticipation
thin place of the spirit approaches
something almost tangible
the time to say farewell
normale

who will be remembered
surrounded by cardinals, drama
caught up in the liturgy of the church
one to whom the doors of power opened
who politicians, world leaders attend
some from respect, others for duty
and those who seek a holy veneer
to cover shabby politics, evil even
will they remember him
maybe

who will the people recall
for whose soul do they pray
just one such as themselves
humble, gentle, generous, kind
or trying to be, most of the time
priest of the barrios, the favelas
spending his last days in blessings
children, poor, prisoners, migrants
praying for peace, calling for hope
amidst all the world's conflicts
so many exploitations, wars
using nearly his last breaths
yet who'd ask us to pray, not for
the leader of the Catholic Church
Pope Francis, Il Papa, His Holiness
heir to the keys, the throne of St Peter
but pray for the soul of Jorge, a sinner
whom with love we commend
to the mercy of God
normale


Saturday of Easter Week
26th April 2025
Rome

bound by iron
long beyond dead
amphitheatre visited
by graffiti artists and
night-time drunks
Tasso's oak remains
that hillside sentinel
overlooking his beloved
Roma, city of his dreams
where beneath lost leaves
he pondered poems, epics
an imagination once living
which long since penned
verses of love and war
that sometimes escape
the page to live again
while on that *****
beneath dead wood
trapped by iron's bond
quercus sapling grows
a new oak for Tasso


25th April 2025
Roma

I thought I had it sorted
what I was meant to be doing
prophet to the people of God
call them back to his ways
to walk on his paths

often they didn't listen
but I was determined, set
message like sharp arrows
voice a whetted sword
to cut to the chase

wearisome mind
they didn't want to hear
rarely took me seriously
made the right noises
but never changed

now that isn't enough
a change of job description
not just for the people of Israel
today, same message for all
me, prophet to the world

who'd have thought
who will listen


Tuesday of Holy Week
15th April 2025
following Isaiah 47.1-7

the list is endless
through the pages of history
women known and unknown
though mainly unknown
as men mostly wrote the histories
women who between them did it all
led countries, commanded armies
designed, built, discovered, explored
researched, taught, sang, danced
painted, sculpted and otherwise created
prophets, priests, monastics
doctors, the wise women
wives, mothers, life-bearers
and so, so much more

so on Mothering Sunday
or Mother's Day as some would have it
we remember them, celebrate even
flowers, chocolates, breakfast in bed
all a bit saccharine, a touch twee for
the resilience, the grit, the determination
it takes to be a woman, a mother
in all the complications and
complexity surrounding such words
managing the stuff of daily life
not just in nice comfortable places
with relaxed cosy lifestyles
but in the war zones, disaster areas
floods, droughts, earthquakes
facing economic exploitation
*** trafficking, as migrants
caring, consoling, healing
doing what needs to be done
to make homes, raise children
somehow keep family going
knowing in the end to keep them
you have to let them go
bone of your bone
flesh of your flesh
'a sword will pierce
your own soul too'

such women, such mothering
is deserving of celebration
so, to misquote Ben Sira
'let us now praise famous women,
and our mothers in their generations'


Mothering Sunday
Fourth Sunday of Lent
30th March 2025
following Luke 2.33 & Ecclesiasticus 44.1

the journey to that table had been long
each with a different starting point
everyone of us chosen, called
picked by him to be a disciple
strengths, weaknesses, blind spots
came as we were, all somewhat changed
yet still as we'd always been

why he picked me I do not know
the accountant, a money man
someone trusted to keep the books
you might say a wise choice
but he knew me too, the hidden me
the Romans labelled us as terrorists
me and my freedom-fighter friends

and we knew what we wanted of him
after all these centuries of *******
Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans
he was a leader, very much the real deal
the sort folk would follow to hell and back
may have wanted me, but did I want him
with him at our head we could not fail

turns out he had different plans
no matter the nudges, the promptings
he would not budge from his path
power given not taken, self-giving love
care for the poor, the broken, the outsider
challenging our leaders, their hypocrisies
he's served himself up for the inevitable

so here we are, at the tipping point
me with just one hand left to play
carry on as he's doing, stick to his plan
he'll be dead meat before the week's out
force the issue, if I re-focus his thinking
maybe, just maybe he'll take our side
and with him as our leader watch out

so we come to it, the critical moment
all together for that Passover meal
"one of you will betray me", he said
"one who dips his bread with me"
mind you we all did that, dip, betray him
deny, run, thirty silver pieces, all the same
but he knew, I could see it in his eyes

the dice rolled, events are now in play
soon the action begins, Gethsemane
will he be there, of course he will
he'd never do a runner, not him
but will he take the bait, rise to the hook
become the leader we know he could be
or have I condemned him, and me too


Wednesday of Holy Week
16th April 2025
following John 13.21-32

we'd grown up together
part of the crowd, for sure
but always as brothers
together in all that we did
inseparable in adventures
mischief and trouble
or stretched out in the sun
dancing in the rain
proud of our good looks
our strength and breeding
a class act definitely

and now separated out
chosen, but for what
primped and preened
looking our finest
strutting our stuff
couldn't be faulted
ushered in, space made
facing the crowds
silence falls, expectant
a choice is made
divided, first and last

words said, the high priest
in all his robes and finery
a prayer, and hands are laid
sins recited, not mine, theirs
but now my problem
for I'm cast out, driven
into the desert to live, to die
some kind of scapegoat
I look back to my brother
taken further in, higher up
a dagger falls on him, in me

year by year, century by century
we are chosen, unblemished
always an exquisite pair
the finest in all the herds
only the best for the temple
the desert and the altar
bearing the people's sins
though letting us pair of goats
carry the can is a bit twisted
responsibility avoidance I'd say
but this year its different

not goats but a man
and not just any man
this one's somehow special
the high priest said so
"it's better for you to have
one man die for the people
than the whole nation perish"
so they prepared themselves
lined up false witnesses
recruited a betrayer
and readied the altar


Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
8th April 2025
following  John 11.50

"what is truth" the politician asked
surrounded by those wanting their truth heard
and only theirs, none other
no inconvenient truths telling different stories

seeking  a grand theory of everything
scientists delve such truths of the universe
as can be measured
but what of those myriad things which can't

religious folk know their truths
certainties tested over centuries, sacrosanct
rejecting other perspectives
yet if God is God no human knows the whole

and I know my truths
my experiences, perceptions rationalised
those ideas which I hold fast
so don't give me your truths, confuse the facts

"know the truth" one man said
"and the truth will set you free" but how
and which truth, whose
knowing, that's the problem, what's the test

I'll just stick with what I know
that's the easy way, keeps everything simple
alone with my certainties
me in my corner, you in yours, beyond reach


Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
27th March 2025
following Luke 8.32 and John 18.38

shame
etched deep in my soul
they all blame the betrayer
named him such through history
but he was honest in his betrayal
faced him, marked him with a kiss
eye to eye the deed was done
but me, for all my bold bluster
I'd run away, denied I knew him
not once, not twice, three times
my friend, three years followed
called him Messiah, the Christ
Jesus, denied I even knew him
so which betrayal is greater
I know my shame

after it was over
death, strange days following
Marys first, then meeting him alive
trying to work my head around it all
back to Galilee where it all began
trying to get a handle, fishing
breakfast on the beach
we know it's him
I know

eating done
a long awkward silence
which he breaks, "do you love me"
he asks, looks me in the eye, asks me
"you know I love you" muttered head down
silence you could cut, then "do you love me"
irritated, angry even, "you know I love you"
longer pause, waves lapping, fire crackles
"do you love me", not brotherly love now
but agape, self-giving love, his kind
"do you love me", thrice denied
now three times he's asked
my shame biting deep
"you know everything
you know I love you"
no condemnation instead
each time a commissioning
"feed my lambs", "take care of my sheep"
"feed my sheep", a shepherd's task and work
for me, forgiveness going beyond my shame
time to start over, whatever that means


Friday of Easter Week
25th April 2025
following John 21.15-19

the crack began in the garden
between the is and the intended
what could be versus what will
fissure, fault line splintering
seeming such a small thing
that decision, the apple eaten
free-will flowing of love's gift
yet responsibility demanded
opening up paths divergent


void of understanding
incomprehension a chasm
essence drowning in absence
abyss, the unknown and unknowable
yet power, wealth, authority drive
the anthem of 'I did it my way'
shaping the world to our desires
claiming mastery of our fate
the captaincy of our souls


can the gap, that widening maw
find a place, space for resolution
again finger tip to finger tip with God
some spoke of incarnation, personhood
demonstrating his character and purpose
our reality reflected in his presence
human independence disrupted
so the mirror was smashed
disturbance destroyed


"it is finished"
God's dying words
echoing into the silence

sound of the cosmos fractured
utterly, humanity triumphant
while most never noticed
business as usual
life went on



Good Friday
18th April 2025
following John 19
Paul Anka and William Henley

scenes glimpsed almost frozen
while life goes on around
passing at speed, never resting
those stop-motion moments

supper
garden
betrayal
arrest
trial
Pilate
sentence
scou­rging
cross
nails
theives
mother
forgiveness
death
spear
burial
s­tone
guards
morning
tomb
empty
body
gone
angels
"he is not dead
he is risen"
meeting
alive

how to comprehend
the incomprehensible
to haul on board
reality beyond understanding
except that it was, it is, it will be
we saw, we touched, we spoke
we witnessed, we know


Monday of Easter Week
21st April 2025
following Mark 16.1-8

many the gurus people follow
seeking for some wisdom
touching base with eternity
hoping to, or at least trying
if it's not too disconcerting
a disturbing of the peace

then there are the prophets
bringing a frisson of dis-ease
expecting, demanding change
but which change, what purpose
and how to test their validity
the real deal or some crank

what they're peddling, that's the question
the status quo disguised, reinvented
might's right, ends justifying the means
God on the side of the big battalions
or love God, love the world, love others
sacrificially,  though it cost you your life

not a lot of mileage the world says
for those crazy ways of thinking
when so much more's on offer
who would choose such a path
acting justly, loving mercy
walking humbly with God, who


Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
10th April 2025
following Jeremiah 23.16-18 & Micah 6.8

you couldn't blame us
doors locked, windows barred
they'd arrested Jesus, killed him
how long until they'd come for us
only Peter and John had ventured out
check the women's story, unbelievable
empty tomb, angels, 'he is risen'
yet it was just as they'd said
but what to make of it

then there he is
standing among us
do we touch, can he speak
is he a ghost or is this really him
'how about something to eat'  he says
fish cooked, he eats, no hallucination
you can still see the marks of the nails
flesh and blood he's alive, we know it
it can't be true but it is, we've seen
what does it mean, dead, alive
and then he's gone

resurrection's synagogue talk
end times, God's final judgement
but this is real, this is now, Jesus
what are we to make of it all
who'd believe us anyway
need to think it through
all that he had to say
a lot to take on board
to get a handle on
so where to begin
and is the place to do so
behind locked doors


Tuesday of Easter Week
22nd April 2025
following Luke 24

they saw the cliff edge
getting nearer and nearer
he wouldn't, couldn't
it's all just bluster
it's got to be
then

the edge gives way
solid crumbles
void opens
the expected
the reliable
the certain
all that was sure
those fixed points
on which we relied
everything trustworthy
emptying to nothing
falling into, well who knows
signed away, lost, abandoned
by presidential decree
plunging


22nd March 2025

searchlight cutting the skies
lighthouse signifying safety or danger
dim bulb faintly illuminates the darkness
waving phone-lights signalling connection
purposeful light with laser sharp focus
light creeping around locked doors
lantern searching out the path
torch of the night time guide
starlight crossing the eons
in waves and photons
signature of creation
foundation of life
then there is light
that's the source
the light of lights
in whom is our
being


Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
26th March 3025
following John 8.12

it had been a bad week
seemed as if he wanted trouble
saying what he said, doing as he did
he knew how to push all their buttons
challenging their authority, their rules
putting them on the spot, no evasions
never backing off despite their anger
it was no surprise he was arrested
mock trial, ******* up charges
guilty verdict, a cross and death
we'd tagged him as the Messiah
but now he's dead, buried, gone
well there was some crazy story
the Marys said they'd seen him alive
but who'd believe that, as I said, crazy

that's what we told him
when he fell in step along the way
travelling with us to Emmaus
listened to all we'd had to say
then started unpicking our story
for everything we'd mentioned
had an explanation, gave a reason
why it had to happen that way
what was really going on
how it fitted into God's plan
explained it from the scriptures
like he was giving us a lesson
Jesus 1.01, the real story

near Emmaus it started getting dark
he was going on but we'd a room, food
so we invited him in, things may change
but hospitality's still usual, our norm
as a guest, we asked for his blessing
so he blessed and broke the bread
did the same for the wine, shared it
and suddenly we recognised him
as if our grief had made us blind
how could we have missed it
like that last supper once again
it was Jesus, and he is alive
chance meeting, no chance

couldn't leave it there
hot-footed it back to Jerusalem
had to tell the others, the disciples
said our piece in the upper room
but it was all a bit redundant
we'd no sooner told our tale
than he turned up there too
living, breathing, wonderfully alive
yet despite all that he'd said
its hard not to have questions
all kinds of puzzlements
and whose going to answer them


Wednesday of Easter Week
23rd April 2025
following Luke 24.13-35

'a man of sorrows
acquainted with grief'
song of the suffering servant
'wounded for our rebellions
crushed by our guilt'
'led like a lamb to the slaughter'
some say he was afflicted by God
despised, struck down, punished
others suggest blame lies elsewhere
in the evil choices of humanity
its wars, conflicts, exploitations
those darkest, deepest of places
where the devil walks
in the diabolical decisions
of hearts and minds enacted
or the craven failure to act
in history and the present day
yet even in such places
'by his wounds we are healed'
for even as we killed him
of those who did the deed
and of those who stood aside
he found the grace to pray
'Father forgive them
they know not what they do'
and we need it



Good Friday
18th April 2025
following Isaiah 52.13 - 53.12
and Luke 23.34

how many times, we ask
how often must I put up with it
that he gets away with stuff, again
she escapes punishment due
he walks all over people
she spreads malicious lies
distortions of the truth
he exploits, abuses his power
how long until justice, how long

but how long before I'm aware
the he and she that's hiding in me
my crimes, my misdemeanours
my short-comings and worse
sheltering behind a smokescreen
those complaints really about me
best quietly ignored, hopefully
the embarrassment avoided
responsibility ducked

I need, you need, we need
someone more reliable
consistent come what may
certain despite the vagaries of life
trustworthy through all its storms
whose steadfast love never ceases
nor mercies ever come to an end
who greets us new every morning
great in his faithfulness

sadly humanity struggles, I do
despite best aspirations
need to look deeper, wider, higher


Fifth Sunday of Lent
6th April 2025
following Lamentations 3.22-23

go fishing, he suggested
night fishing of all things
I hate fishing, always have
could never see its attraction
but it's like a default reset for him
don't know what to do, go fishing
stuck for what to think, go fishing
Peter's 'run home to mama' mode
still we needed to get out of town
time and space to think, to decide
work out what on earth we do next
night fishing was good for that
at least we thought it would be
but the thinking and the talking
went no better than the fishing
round and round in circles
not a single bite, not a fish
no ideas about what next either
just lots of 'what ifs', nothing else
no fish and too much hot air

so there we were, out on the lake
sore, stiff, talked out, frustrated
still no fish and dawn approaching
a flame flared on the beach
someone lighting a fire
we could see him moving around
silhouetted against the flames
then a voice calling over the water
we can't have been far off shore
"try the other side"
should have heard Peter chunter
"who does he think he is
'try the other other side'
been a fisherman all my life
'try the other other side'"
but then something clicked
could almost see cogs turning
suddenly Peter's hauling nets
calling to Andrew for help
throwing them over the other side
the boat takes a lurch
tips over, lines taut, net full, fish
Peter shouting "get them landed"
leaping over the side
splashing fast for the shore
and the clock's spinning back
like some kind of time machine
that other catch, that other beach
we know who he is, the voice
the man calling across the water
calling us to breakfast, and ....


Thursday of Easter Week
24th April 2025
following John 21.1-14

strange this island I once knew
lost in the passing of time
a snapshot of memory, a facet
of what probably never was
or if it was, that was but one step
of a journey into becoming
an extancy far from discovery

around my strange island
in and over and through it flow
inescapable tides and currents
forever changing, transforming
eroding here, depositing there
sweeping, shaping, submerging
persistently forcing evolution

working hard in their efforts to
reimagine, redefine, rewrite, recast
come autocrats, plutocrats, democrats
every kind of -crat imaginable
and those who deny the label yet
fight their corner nonetheless
recreating strange in their own image

strange as I too am strange
with my history, my experiences
my beliefs, values, hopes, dreams
assumptions of what's expected
of this place I call, you call home
quarks of personal reality subsumed
by changing states of island being

top, bottom
up, down
charmed
strange


21st May 2025
Stephen Cooper

doors locked
access secured
windows shuttered
airwaves blocked
cameras banned
tech discarded
mics absent
media exclusion
briefings forbidden
journos pontificate

black smoke

red hats
old men, mostly
of power, certainly
prayer hopefully
decision makers
assume seclusion
incommunicado
from prying eyes
listening ears
secrecy vowed

black smoke

business
politics no doubt
discussion, debate
job and person spec
a space carved out
time and freedom
scope for vision
to ponder, pray
spirit vistas
seek God

black smoke

insight
inspiration
reaching far
into the silence
echoes of eternity
beyond knowing
resonates, shaping
wells of the soul
spirits coalesce
chosen

white


8th May 2025

looking up at the heavens
ancients saw bears, hunters, *****
shapes of exotics in all kinds
today's wonders are galaxies
black holes, echoes of 'big bang'
the patterning of the universe
and magnificence closer to home
the complexity of life, its variety
DNA, the internal logic of being
fibonacci to chaos to fractals
matter's quantum existence
searching out the patterns
the very stuff of the cosmos
purpose and meaning if any

but who gets to decide
some say survival of the fittest
the strong, the brightest, the best
adaptation and evolution forever
sustaining species across the eons
or chasing an environment receding
planetary, universal inconstancy
shaping shadows of apocalypse
planting, nurturing the seeds
of our own inexorable extinction
who gets to decide

yet may the pattern differ
something bigger, more complex
birth, death, evolution, extinction
the rise and fall of species
star systems and galaxies
entropy playing enthalpy
catastrophe versus creation
annihilation or ex-nihlo spark
dancing to a different tune
omega transmutes to alpha
death becomes resurrection
daily little deaths or the last
beauty of the broken salvaged
love's creative urge driving
a birth, nascent recasting
shaping old patterning anew


2nd May 2025

funny how they stick
across time, through history
amusing or cruel, justified or not
simply a given, no choice, **** it up
Judas the Betrayer, Doubting Thomas
true I wasn't there at that first meeting
him shiny and new, risen from the dead
they had their chance to see, to touch
know the truth of it for themselves
we'd all seen him dead and buried
they'd needed to be sure he's alive
why should it be different for me
yet asking earned the nickname
they'd have had their questions
just the same if they'd missed
but that moniker stuck fast
it's how you remember me
those many centuries later
doubter, not certainty seeker
yet that was not my story's end
not once I'd got my head straight
no sir, places to go, people to tell
"go", he said, "into all the world"
so I did, took him at his word
travelled all the way to India
telling folk about Jesus, his
life, death AND resurrection
not letting up till the day I died
Doubting Thomas they call me
let facts speak for themselves
discover who he made me
go beyond the nickname
if you tell my story


Second Sunday of Easter
27th April 2025
following John 20.19-35

wandering the eternal city
passing frescos and paintings
such architecture, music, sculpture
Michelangelos, Berninis, Leonardos
set beside the literature of ages
ideas torn from the heart, the soul
of creatives ancient and modern
imprisoned marble forms emergent
paint on canvas worked, reworked
imaginings snared by pen and paper
elusive melody freed by stave and bow
but for what has each one striven
reaching far outwith experience
grasping some transcendent glimpse
to make sense, explore meaning
of a perfection beyond knowing
or desperate in their desire to fill
erase that howling void within, strip
inescapable strata of nothingness
hoping for revelation, praying


14th May 2025
Stephen Cooper

seven days
seven weeks, seven years
no  time would have sufficed
to prepare for what came next
dead then alive, that was hard enough
you know the story, know how it ends
we were living it one day at a time
one new impossible after another
because then he says "go"
"go into all the world
make disciples of all nations
baptise them in my name
God who is Father, Son and Spirit"
what can prepare you for that
where to start, how to begin
well that's another story
today that word is enough
to wrestle with, focus on
'go'

Saturday of Easter Week
26th April 2025
following Matthew 28.16-20

by
name
family
parents
siblings
history
***
race
gender
class
sch­ool
university
lack thereof
qualifications
competencies
inspirations
abilities
talent­s
skills
work
wealth
poverties
friends
politics
books
music
sport­
tech
faults
failings
pains
shame
blamed
imposed
exposed
reposing­
prejudices
confusions
indifferences
inconsistencies
insecurities­
guilt or no
fragilities
sorrows
hopes
fears
joys
loves
hating
warring
jeal­ousies
peacemaking
forgiveness
envisioning
futures
creature
creat­or
beliefs
living
exploring
discovery
knowing
unknowing
commitmen­t
belonging
building
partner
vows
children
generations
etcetera
e­tcetera
etcetera

all
noted
defined
labelled
identified
categoris­ed
glitter ball of
reflections
refractions
deflections
the entirety
of anything
everything
nothing
yet
in
by
with
beyond
betwixt
beneath­
existence
such surface
experiences
summoning
embracing
enjoying
celebrate
the void

silence

owned
freed
to be

me

'we brought nothing into the world
we take nothing out'
yet leaving


19th May 2025
Stephen Cooper
noting 1 Timothy 6.7

I know how I like the world to be
settled, ordered, secure, a safe place
to live and grow and have my being
but it's not like that, never has been
fantasy, a miasma of self-delusion

those certainties to which I hold
less solidly founded than I thought
even the chair in which I sit to write
sub-atomic something held in nothing
by bonds of quantum uncertainty

thus far the best that imagination
from manifest ambiguities distilled
an unknowing, a beyond knowing
oft found too disturbing to be owned
undermines my longed for certitudes

scaffolded by definitive predictability
my life patterns, its structures interact
with rules, laws of finite vision reinforced
ruts that stasis and stupor deeply carve
which is fine until the infinite disrupts

creeping up or chaotic in cataclysm
the tectonic plates of existence shift
bonds of grasped reality dissolve
bewilderment in discombobulation
audacious reconstitution required

what to hold fast
of eternal significance
or heading that way
which to let go
to release
refuse


6th May 2025