Sermons And Gubbins

This poem was written for Advent 2025. I tried to turn in themes of waiting, urban life and ancient wisdom. I hope you enjoy reading it! The Adventure Now is not the time. The sky is thick cement But the buildings shine  like the sun is aching to be set free from breeze-block and reinforced glass. The angels in the architecture are moments away from singing An overture to crack the concrete heavens. Their wings almost twitching as they noiselessly clear their marbled throats. But not now… Not yet… Now is not the time. Now, the world is silent. It is more patient than I. Have you ever heard silence echo? The shutters not yet opened. The fluorescence inside the buildings almost beginning to flicker. The first tinglings of a hum. The faintest hint of incense. Not yet… Not yet… Every movement is considered. Every sound has meaning. Forecasts and prophesies  Carried fresh on gale-force winds. North Utsire, South Utsire Isaiah, Zechariah  Lundy, Fastnet, German Bite Malachi and...

This poem was written for our November Church Poetry group; the theme was Paper. I hope you enjoy reading it! T E A R Paper bags Paper planes Paper flags Paper chains  Paper tigers  Paper cats Paper boats  Paper hats  Paper cups Paper plates Paper clips Paper weights Paper kisses Paper dolls Paper bridges Paper trolls Paper trails Paper crowns Paper smiles Paper frowns  Paper work Paper trays Paper months  Paper days  Paper hours  Paper wings Paper flowers Paper rings Paper hearts Paper knives Paper cuts Paper lives

Today is National Poetry Day. For the past two years ( 2024 , 2023 ), I've collated a list of the poems written in the last 12 months, and so I've done the same again today! Some of these below have explicit language in - those are clearly noted below if you wish to avoid reading them. Happy reading, and please let me know if you have a favourite? A Conversation with the Boss at 5:26 on a Friday Afternoon  (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE) Out of the Window Time and Tide Haikus  (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE) Vigil The English Abroad Prayer (for Isaac and Miriam) Through the Music Half Life Burning Issues  (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE) Things I Have Regretted Happy Birthday to You Give me my Country back What ( crime) Would Jesus Do?

This poem was written for our church monthly poetry group. The theme was either ‘Jesus’ or ‘Crime’. For this one, I chose both I hope you enjoy reading it! What (crime) Would Jesus Do? Would Jesus rob an international bank  and give the money to the poor? Would Jesus chain himself to a tank,  if it meant that he could stop a war? Would Jesus steal a loaf of bread to feed a hungry child?  Would Jesus break into a testing lab to free animals into the wild?  Would Jesus smuggle Bibles  into states where they are banned? Would Jesus help families  flee from war to other lands?  Would Jesus help someone die to ease their suffering? Would Jesus protest human-rights abusers’ state-visits to the king? Would Jesus face a nazi and punch him squarely on the jaw? Would Jesus follow nations’ rules? Would Jesus break the law?

This poem was written for our church monthly poetry group. The theme was either ‘Jesus’ or ‘Crime’. This one was the latter… Hope you enjoy reading it! Give me my country back They'd like to have you think  It is a crime to speak your mind, To love your country, To wave a flag. "We can't say these things any more!", They say Whilst posting on Twitter and Facebook, And ranting on Talk Radio, And addressing thousands of people at rallies and demos; Televised and monetised for the whole world to hear. Thank God we have these every-men, These foreign-backed, violent, every-men, These stinking-rich, grifting, every-men, Standing up to defend Our Country  From the tyranny of the Liberal Elite,   With their shiny dog-whistles, their home-spun names, and their offshore bank accounts. Otherwise  We might not notice  If it became illegal for protest to be disruptive. We might not notice  If it became illegal to support those opposing genocide. We might not notic...

This poem was written for our monthly pub poetry night. The theme was 'age'.  Happy Birthday to You Age is just a number. Today is just a day. Life is simply protein strains, chemicals and DNA. A bucket is a bucket. A list is just some things. 'Happy Birthday' is just a song  that everybody sings. Loved ones are just people. A cake is just some food. The party lasts forever. And everything's All Good. Our lives are soon forgotten. The impression that we leave  is swift blown out like candles  People don't forever grieve. Heaven and earth will fly away, and all these things will pass. One day I'll believe all that I say;  until then, to you, I'll raise my glass.

This poem was written for our monthly church poetry group. The theme was 'Regret'. I hope you enjoy reading it! Things I have Regretted  The promises I've broken; The promises that were wrong; The times I should have spoken; The times I should have held my tongue. The follies of my youth; The reserve that comes with time; The times when I have told the truth  when a lie would have been more kind.  Foolish ways I spent my money; Trying too hard to be cool; The jokes I thought were funny  when really they were cruel. The times I should have had more grace; Times I should have taken stands; The times I tried hard to save face  when I should have held up my hands. The times I should have gone to bed; The times I should have not; The times the things that were in my head  were better I forgot. The window glass; the help not lent; That extra glass of wine; The words I said and that I meant; Believing I had time. The late night kiss that never was; The flight I ne...