How does poetry impact our spiritual formation, as well as our ability to read the Bible? The challenging text of the slaughter of the innocents in Matthew 2 offers a powerful case study.
Category: Sacred Verse: Poetry, Prayer, and Faith
“Etymology of the Word ‘Parable'” [contest-winning cinquain poem]
I'm thrilled to announce that my poem, "Etymology of the Word 'Parable,'" has won the 2022 WWPH Writes the Holidays Contest :). Check out my poem, and an explanation of its form, here.
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“Autobiography of an Origami Lantern” [poem]
Check out my new poem "Autobiography of an Origami Lantern," a poem whose insights surprised me after I gave myself permission to play with origami earlier this year.
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“Cabin Fever Compels Me to Bike to the Anacostia River” [verse paragraph poem]
Check out my verse paragraph poem "Cabin Fever Compels Me to Bike to the Anacostia River," along with an explanation of the verse paragraph form, some famous contemporary examples, and a verse paragraph writing prompt!
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“A Turn in the River” [chiastic poem]
Check out my new poem "A Turn in the River," and learn about the ancient (and Biblical!) poetic form known as chiasm.
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Walking with the Tender Awe of Poetry: A Hand of Blessing on Ashes
As guest contributor Darcy Wiley notes, "Poetry may not solve problems, but it often de-centers them, bending toward small creatures and hidden moments."
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“Unweaving the Veil” [poem about Annunciation and deconstruction]
"Unweaving the Veil" celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation. I'd argue it's also a poem about deconstruction.
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“The Tao of Christ” [poem, clouds, and intriguing back story]
God spoke to me, and surprised me, through my own words as well as the words of a colleague this past week.
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Triptych for Cosmic Music [Advent pandemic poem]
Check out this Advent pandemic poem, which is one of my attempts at putting the past two years into words.
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What Makes Good Haiku? (hint: it’s not 5-7-5)
Many of us are quite preoccupied this week with holiday preparations. Yet I imagine many of us also yearn for some quiet space in the New Year for reflection. Haiku is a perfect form for this practice. Read on to learn more.
Melanie Weldon-Soiset 