writing poetry

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments 
Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. Ephesians 5:19 KJV

In this verse, Paul writes about psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as if they were three friends. Sadly, in our modern age we have chopped these neatly up and then stored them on separate shelves in our pantry. But what a great joy it can be for those of us who call ourselves poets to attempt a reunion and invite all three to our kitchen table.

For example, when we use the word “Psalm,” most of us think only of the one hundred and fifty of them written in the Bible. But the Greek word, simply means a verse of any sort that is accompanied by stringed instruments. Stranger still, the phrase “spiritual song” was not a song as we know it, but more of a rhythmic chant, (a bit closer to what we call a poem). Last of all, the word hymn, meant a musical celebration, and was what Jesus sang with His disciples before they went out from the Last Supper. It might surprise you to learn that many of the hymns we sing today were not initially written as songs. Just to give one example, “How Great Thou Art” by Carl Boberg, was originally written in Swedish as a ten-stanza poem, titled “O Store Gud.” Somewhere along the way it was paired with a folk melody and then later translated into Russian. After that Russian version began to become popular in Ukraine, it was heard by a British missionary, named Stuart Hine. Stuart loved the song so much that he translated the first two of the verses into English, and then added the third and fourth verses which we sing today.

I won’t go into detail, but similar stories lie behind, well known songs such as “My Jesus I Love Thee” “Jesus Loves Me” and “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” One precious memory I have as a nursing home chaplain is of my friend Davonne – now singing with Jesus. Anytime our song service, if I would ask to sing only the first, second and last verse. Davonne would exclaim, “NO Pastor Peter! That song has a story and if we skip any of the verses, we will be missing part of it!” So, maybe it will help you the next time you are laboring away trying to tell a story with a poem, to close your eyes, then imagine the melody of your favorite hymn playing in the background and let it set a rhythm to your words and make a melody in your heart!

Why in the World Would Anyone Want to Be a Poet – Part 2

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

          Why in the world would anyone want to be a poet? First off, if I remember correctly, except for Robert Frost and William Shakespeare, few poets ever made enough money to pay the bills much less support a family. So why would anyone choose to write poems? Secondly, who even reads anything anymore, except text messages or social media posts. But here are three reasons you just might make the crazy choice to write anyway.

  1. It is For God’s Glory –   Because, whatever you do, eating or drinking or anything else, everything should be done to bring glory to God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Phillips

When we think of poetry and more specifically about ourselves as poets, we figure that our job is somehow different and more important than that of plumbers or housekeepers. But the Bible makes no such differentiation. All of us have the obligation to communicate through our work, the glory of God. Think of work like home remodeling One person installs the sink and countertops while another cleans it up as if Jesus were getting ready to cook a gourmet meal there. All of us are expected to get our job done for a specific purpose and with all the excellence we are capable of.

2)We have a simple story we are dying to tell –  But I am afraid that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led astray from the simplicity of your pure devotion to Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:18 AMP

During the 1700’s there was a small religious group called the Shakers who had an impact on our culture far beyond the few communities they founded. In 1848, Joseph Brackett, one of their leaders wrote a song titled Simple Gifts.

Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free

Tis a gift to come down to where we ought to be

Most of us can use a bit of that advice before we start to write. Sadly, entire library shelves (Not to mention websites) are filled with unread dusty volumes of dense impenetrable words. While these may be of some value to a few rare souls, if our desire is to communicate to a wider audience then we might need to follow the advice posted on our daughter-in-law’s refrigerator:

Simplify – Throw everything out!

3)It is within the city limits of what God gave us to do

Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others…2 Corinthians 10:15 ESV

To our modern way of thinking any sort of limit simply restricts our horizons and denies us the ability to reach our full potential. But Paul reveals that the secret of His effectiveness and success was precisely because he willingly and joyfully worked within the limits that God had chosen for him. The news flash from the Bible is that we are not called to reach everyone, but we have the chance to reach someone. For me that someone, who is like one of my own grandchildren. I usually keep a picture in my mind of one of their faces whenever I am writing (And rewriting, then chopping it down some more!)

So do you best for God’s glory, simply be yourself and rejoice in the city limits he has given you to live!

Poetry in Motion

/ pastorpete51 / 8 Comments

I have been at work on my Winter/ Spring now turned Summer writing project of a book of children’s poetry. Beyond the writing part I am not too sure of what I am doing but have been blessed to have several friends jump on board to help with everything from illustrations to some graphic design advice. Hopefully “All Creatures Mostly Small” will be out by early July. If like me you feel bogged down by a writing goal, don’t give up, resort to imitation of others or settle for less than your very best. The toughest part of course is that often our very best gets knocked down, ignored or rejected along the way. But if we are called to write, then doing our best in the way we are gifted is pleasing to the author and editor of our faith. I am not sure why God has given me a fascination for tiny things. No matter where I turn it seems He is talking to me through the smallest members of His creation and so I give you my smallest for HIs highest. If you would like a sneak peak here is a little sample from the introduction. I hope it brightens your weekend. Blessings to you all. 

Hummingbirds and Eagles


Of hummingbirds and eagles
And ears and eyes and nose
Of Ibises and flower seeds
And how God’s garden grows
These pages are all filled for you
With creatures mostly small
That God made God’s to show to us
His amazing loving plan!


Hummingbirds and Eagles by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2021 all rights reserved.