Beyond these walls
At the Edge – Wrth yr Ochr
At the edge – Wrth yr Ochr Order Here! A new book of poems and reflections by Stuart Elliott with artwork by Chloe Elliott. Written over the last ten years, these poems reflect encounters with nature, with grief, with people whose paths have been shared for a time. They are an attempt to capture serendipity…
Fugal music of Easter
I woke this morning not to an alarm rudely bleating into my dreams, but gently with the birdsong. As the dawn chorus began sometime around first light the soft, yet strident songs of the early risers drifted through to my thoughts and encouraged me awake. The chorus grew stronger with the strengthening light in some…
Beyond the comma
As a child, church, God, Jesus, it was all a golden thread woven through life. I don’t remember a time it was not there. Sometimes I’m grateful for that. I grew up on a diet of teaching that was probably not always, but, what I remember could be summed up as: How terrible we are.…
Mary, patron saint.
Mary, patron of those who are faithful to the very last, and beyond the last to still be faithful when all hope is gone. Mary, patron of those who strive to scatter the proud in the imaginations of their hearts. To bring down the powerful from their thrones, and lift up the lowly; To fill…
In sight of Seriol
Enlli, in memory only, as elusive as the silken light which slips through the clouds of the morning.
Sarn Helen
Tom Bullough’s opening remarks in [Sarn Helen]. He was hoping to find “what, these saints who perceived the divine in the landscape of wales might bring to our relationship with the natural world.” For I too have searched the ancient stories for the wisdom of those who lived in the world”
On the coffin trail
An out of the way place offers a moment to rest on the way though the path is not easy…
Breaking
He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. Tearing apart of a loaf, as the crust breaks, crumbs fall and the heart is exposed. Bread tears along the strands which cling together like sinews then suddenly part opening up the heart of the loaf. Whole, it is of little use, but…
In the garden
In the half light shade nor shadow yet distinguished. Expectations come of a dawning; for all in that moment to be well before sleep has properly passed. The beauty of that fragile garden now all but out of reach save for a glimpse of light between trees in muffled footsteps in the stillness of the morning A softening of breath gives credence to all that exists Now the darkness, watch and pray.Prayer…
Reflections on a snow day
There used to be such a thing as a snow day – a day for not bothering to try to battle against the weather to get to wherever it is that we needed to be and just take a moment to reflect. This was all but destroyed by the technological capacity to work from home…