Hound of Heaven Hymns - 2026 ~ Rough Places Plain

telescoped time 2

a device in dramas
defying the unities
but never in real
life till now the
distance brought
larger and clearer
clunk collapsing
when eye and scene
crash in to compact
ness for travelling
not seeing you yet
the images remain
being burnt upon
my retina and my
heart those moments
of parting like no
other in intensity
and radical change
who am I what is
was will be reality
anchored to our
passing yet eternal
union where love’s
mystery recalibrates
transfigures and
enchants turning
dross into gold as
it forges the bond
of bliss made in
heaven by love
himself

the strait and arrow

near yet far the narrow
ribbon of water bars all
but ear and eye can I fly
to reach the unreachable
harpooning a line to link
and build a way – my
arrow prayers are darted
pleas for help across the
styx dark lethe crossed
by many and now my be
loved it is such a flight
of longing yearning
aching loss and love
so straight and narrow it
lands from heart to heart

ground of being

the ground upon we walk
seems certain solid true
we rarely think that at a
stroke all can change the
ground of being no longer
ours to assume and rely
but changed to a free fall
the scenes the same now
viewed completely changed
by eyes no longer fed by
light from you with touch
and breath the unspoken
all that propels and fuels
the directions of love and
purpose the base meaning
moved and messed to be
left with fragments as parts
parted fit together in
mysterious silent fusion
arching over – no longer
through – time both
waiting and I longing with
the ache of steps still to
make and a heart that beats
in flesh but yearns to soar
that the promise of love yet
again draws enfolds ignites
in the ecstasy of fusion and com
pleteness never found in the
partial now but in the allness
that once was and ever will be
o certain land ground me in the
clouds of unknowable knowing

Sonnet of sacrifice ~ 1

The word we use slips quickly off the tongue
For sacrifice is safe with costed price.
This risk is well but nought – no heart is wrung –
True blood is spilt in choice and roll of dice.
Our worlds collapse when faced with death’s true toll;
Our lives are never truly ours alone,
Much more unknown must change our human goal
Oft hid in loss and pain, each silent groan.
Thus disappointment is a blessing true
To switch our gaze and thoughts towards a light
That only shines when self to others flew –
And makes a vision bright in darkest night.
Now sacrifice brings life whate’er the cost
And brings abundant gain when all is lost.

Written on the train to see the Anish Kapoor exhibition in London

A sonnet for the over engineered

The world is full of nuts and bolts unseen:
They’re made by us like bricks to build our power,
Not welded but entwined, a mean machine
To join and hold by screw through every hour.
They’re strong and last much longer than our days,
They also blind us to the way ahead
That lies beyond the narrow selfish gaze,
The world we build and prize until we’re dead.
But life surprises – holy love doth call
In body’s beauty warming mind and heart
To sigh with spirit’s breath in raptured thrall
When every soul awakens with a start.
The engineering self is doomed to fall,
Love’s realm is truly ours when found in all.

Sonnet of sacrifice ~ 2

Walls of blood and lumps of entrails raw,
The invert mountain hanging close and low
Where God instructs a death in horror’s awe
Before the knife is stayed from father’s blow.
The call of sacrifice runs long and deep
To expiate the darkness facing all;
This blackness beckons – all time and matter reap –
Its presence real in holding us in thrall.
By contrast, light reflected changes every view and sight:
The sky below, the ground above our feet,
Our ordered world remade in visions bright
To challenge all as myst’ries cost we meet.
Short life is here displaced in wonder’s clue
This world is open to a view more true.

Written after a visit to the Anish Kapoor exhibition
at the Hayward Gallery

A sonnet of terms and conditions

We set our terms on everything we do,
Conditions seem to make us who we are.
All this makes safe, we think, our world where few
With power exploit all lives both near and far.
‘To gain and ne’er to lose at my expense’ –
We’re taught these jungle rules right from our birth;
My interests frame this self of mind and sense
As people live in fear of loss and dearth.
This globe is blessed by untamed weather’s bite:
Beneath the skies we face creator’s hand
So even clouds and storms bestow new sight –
Conditions, terms, are set by love’s new land.
Life’s ways and means are never truly ours
In mystery’s sweet unfathomable powers!