Glocal Christianity

Haiku reflections on the Parramatta River

I am thinking of joining the New Writers Group in Parramatta. I found out through their website yesterday that there is a Haiku competition for the Riverbeats Festival later this year.

Haiku's follow a three line format.

First Line: 5 Syllables
Second Line: 7 Syllables
Third Line: 5 Syllables

The theme for the festival is water and spirituality and the successful entires will be projected on large screens and buildings at the banks of the Parramatta River. Having played around with Christian haikus on and off for some time on this blog I just couldn't pass up such an opportunity. Here's my first one: 

Wind over water
An echo of creation
I long for God's rest

I'll see how it goes.

Poem on Prayer

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own! But I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

source

Poem on the Pain of Love

Does God understand the pain of love?
The loneliness we feel
The rejection the betrayal of trust by a friend.
Does He understand the experience of total separation
From one He loves?
Does He understand the agony and grief of the soul?
The cost and the pain of love.

God sent his only Son into the world.
He was despised and rejected by men
Betrayed by a friend.
He experienced total separation from His beloved Son.
In the garden Jesus knew agony and grief beyond compare.
The cost and the pain were borne for us on the cross.
Yes God knows the pain of love.

Dave, 1984. Sourced from here.

I came across this poem while reflecting on the crucifixion of Jesus, on what it meant and what it says about God. 

Poem on the Trinity

O TRINITY of blessed Light,
O Unity of sovereign might,
as now the fiery sun departs,
shed Thou Thy beams within our hearts.

To Thee our morning song of praise,
to Thee our evening prayer we raise;
Thee may our glory evermore
in lowly reverence adore.

All laud to God the Father be;
all praise, Eternal Son, to Thee;
all glory, as is ever meet,
to God the Holy Paraclete.

Ambrose (340-397)

For more on the poetry and hymnology of Ambrose read here.

Carmina Gadelica: Desires

Ruin
Labhram gach la a reir do cheartais
Gach la taisbim do smachd, a Dhe;
Labhram gach la a reir do reachd-sa,
Gach la is oidhche bithim toigh riut fein.

Gach la cunntam lath do throcair,
Toirim gach la dha do nosda speis;
Gach la tionnsgam fein dhut oran,
Teillim gach la do ghloir, a Dhe.

Beirim gach la gaol dhut, Iosa,
Gach oidhche nithim da reir;
Gach la's oidhche, duar is soillse,
Luaidhim do chaoibhneas dhomh, a Dhe.

And the translation...

Desires
May I speak each day according to Thy justice
Each day may I show Thy chastening, O God;
May I speak each day according to Thy wisdom,
Each day and night may I be at peace with Thee.

Each day may I count the causes of Thy mercy,
May I each day give heed to Thy laws;
Each day may I compose to Thee a song,
May I harp each day Thy praise, O God.

May I each day give love to Thee, Jesu,
Each night may I do the same;
Each day and night, dark and light,
May I laud Thy goodness to me, O God.

From the Carmina Gadelica

The Daemon of Suburbia

How easily we become
Possessed by our possessions
Enslaved by our aspirations
Addicted to our affluence

We bow to Market Forces
The daemon of suburbia
And cry out.
O God we need an exorcism

Haiku: The Pyromaniac

Ignite in me now
A bush fire of the Spirit
My Lord and my God 

This haiku came to me while walking to work this morning. Its inspired by the bush fires that come to the east coast of Australia each summer, burning away underbrush litter, stimulating new growth.

Seven Haikus

I came across some "monastically inspired haikus" at Coming to the Quiet. From what I can see the author, Antony Hanson, is a Catholic contemplative. I particularly liked this one:

Humbled when I see
I cannot love God unless
I love you also.

Haiku on Psalm 42:1

Here's another haiku I wrote, inspired by Psalm 42:1

As the deer pants for
Streams of water, oh my Lord,
My soul pants for you.

Haiku on the return of Christ

If my name were Christ,
I'd definitely think twice
'bout coming back here

A haiku by reg e. gaines

Christian Haikus from Carmen Roe

Two haiku here from Carmen Roe's Christian Haiku Page:

What, try something new?
We've always done it this way
Ride your horse to church

God's blessings are lost,
amidst a chorus of doubt,
Get real and bust out

Psalms: Haiku style

I was meditating on the Psalms last night and in the process a few bubbled back out in Haiku form. Bit rough but I thought I would share them.

Psalm 19
The heavens declare
The glory of God and the
Skies proclaim his strength

Psalm 42
My soul thirsts for God
He's been elusive of late
Tears have been my food.

Psalm 47
Within your temple
We meditate on your love.
Unfailing. Awesome.

Holy Week at Genoa

Holy Week at Genoa

I wandered through Scoglietto's far retreat,
The oranges on each o'erhanging spray
Burned as bright lamps of gold to shame the day;
Some startled bird with fluttering wings and fleet
Made snow of all the blossoms; at my feet
Like silver moons the pale narcissi lay:
And the curved waves that streaked the great green bay
Laughed i' the sun, and life seemed very sweet.
Outside the young boy-priest passed singing clear,
'Jesus the son of Mary has been slain,
O come and fill His sepulchre with flowers.'
Ah, God! Ah, God! those dear Hellenic hours
Had drowned all memory of Thy bitter pain,
The Cross, the Crown, the Soldiers and the Spear.

Poetry by Oscar Wilde

A Poem for the Weary

E Tenebris

Come down, O Christ, and help me! reach Thy hand,
For I am drowning in a stormier sea
Than Simon on Thy lake of Galilee:
The wine of life is spilt upon the sand,
My heart is as some famine-murdered land
Whence all good things have perished utterly,
And well I know my soul in Hell must lie
If I this night before God's throne should stand.
'He sleeps perchance, or rideth to the chase,
Like Baal, when his prophets howled that name
From morn to noon on Carmel's smitten height.'
Nay, peace, I shall behold, before the night,
The feet of brass, the robe more white than flame,
The wounded hands, the weary human face.

Poetry by Oscar Wilde, 1856-1900

The gift of power

The gift of power
(Bannag nam Buadh)

I am the Gift, I am the Poor
I am the Man of this night.

I am the Son of God in the door,
On Monday seeking the gifts.

Noble is Bride the gentle fair on her knee,
Noble the King of glory on her breast.

Son of the moon, Son of the sun,
Great Son of Mary of God-like mind.

A cross on each right shoulder,
I am in the door, open thou.

I see the hills, I see the strand,
I see angels heralding on high.

I see the dove shapely, benign,
Coming with kindness and friendship to us.

From the Carmina Gadelica