Prayer for the New Year

Posted on January 1, 2018January 5, 2018 by Laurel Archer

Turning. Let this be my New Year’s revolution turning to what is, rather than some fantasy. ‘That’ me and ‘that’ day were just forced. This me will have to do; today is all I have to turn to... Read More

Summer Pilgrim

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Laurel Archer

I have been contemplating Psalm 85 in particular lately.  This week the final line: He will make his footsteps a way, pushed a prayer from me.  “Please wear bright red shoes then because I nee... Read More

Nightlife – ‘atravel journal’ prayer July 31

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Laurel Archer

Nightlife It is too early, but I can’t sleep anymore, a lifelong reality I have sometimes appreciated more than right now. Caleb is also awake. I can hear him in his restlessness – also a lifelong... Read More

Six Amens for the Sestina

Posted on April 26, 2015April 28, 2015 by Laurel Archer

Amen and Amen and Amen… A triolet completes the Sestina like an Amen completes a prayer.  This is doubly appropriate since our particular Lenten Sestina writing project was written as a prayer.... Read More

Holy Week Sestina

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Laurel Archer

Easter is mystery — that from death, comes life.  Community is mystery — that from the sometimes sketchy attempts at togetherness, comes love, care and belonging.  Poetry is mystery too ... Read More

Sestina Settings

Posted on March 29, 2015March 29, 2015 by Laurel Archer

Read it back to me It’s a common practice to go back and reread what you’ve written.  It helps the writer to see whether the piece is hanging together and whether it flows.  For me readi... Read More

The Community of the Sestina

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Laurel Archer

Week Four Stanza What does it mean to pray in community?  Does one voice praying as priest best unify the desires of the hearts gathered?  Or, is it better for all gathered to pray a written prayer ... Read More

The Sestina at Mid-point

Posted on March 15, 2015March 18, 2015 by Laurel Archer

The third whole week of Lent is over, and so the third stanza of the Sestina is complete as well. Writing a poem by yourself is an activity of self indulgence. I can get a little lost, thick in words ... Read More

Lenten Sestina Continued

Posted on March 8, 2015March 10, 2015 by Laurel Archer

Bring a balm, a fragrance, to this heart in need of solace and to this body bullied into this unholy pace. Bind up my worries and sorrows.  Pour me love’s healing wine. Let my soul draught deep... Read More

Lenten Observance in Community

Posted on March 5, 2015March 10, 2015 by Laurel Archer

There are many ways to observe Lent.  I’ve tried a few and while it seems wrong to say some were more ‘successful’ than others (successful defined as, ‘I was able to do whatev... Read More