wonderingpilgrim

Ode To Marjorie Isobel Ryle

Today the Ryle clan gathered on Kaurna Country at Mt Lofty overlooking Piccadilly Valley to scatter the ashes of our beloved matriarch, my mother. It would have been her 101st birthday. Not all could make it, but all were in some way present. Ode for Marjorie Isobel Ryle At Mt Lofty, overlooking Piccadilly ValleyHere, whereContinue reading “Ode To Marjorie Isobel Ryle”

Cob of Grace

We went because the call came –a need, a name, a dose to deliver.No invoice, no ledger,just the quiet urgency of breath. The growth economy would chart it:kilometers driven,time logged,value exchanged.It would ask:Was it efficient?Was it scalable? But then –quite unrelated,unasked,unearned –a cob of fruit sourdough,still warm,cradled in hands that had no partin the medicineContinue reading “Cob of Grace”

The Ten Outcasts – some Bush Poetry

“The Grateful One” (Luke 17:11-19) Out past the scrub where the mulga grows,And the cockatoos wheel in flight,Ten blokes camped by the river bend,Kept clear of towns by law and fright.Their skin was rough, their spirits worn,Marked by a curse they couldn’t shake,But word came down from a drover’s mouth:“There’s a healer near the Break.”Continue reading “The Ten Outcasts – some Bush Poetry”

The Jesters Stockmans Pie

This is one of my go-tos when I’m on the road and its time for a quick lunch between commitments – it’s light yet filling. Lately, it’s what I’m eating in my dreams. When I shared this yesterday with a group of friends who know me well, they laughed tellingly. “You are both a bitContinue reading “The Jesters Stockmans Pie”

Autism – a response

In anticipation of POTUS 47’s “big announcement”… The Unfixed FlameLet no decree declare the mind askew,Whose stars align in constellations rare.The world is wide, and thought has colours too –Not all must march in lockstep with greatest care. What some would mend, we name as sacred fire:A pulse of insight, fierce and uncontained.The diff’rent child, theContinue reading “Autism – a response”

Poetry Play

Occasionally, I dabble in verse.Rising to the challenge to write about my hair using a Scottish Burns stanza, I came up with this: A number one cut hides historyMy follicles are mysteryDark colour faded so swiftlyNow blinding whiteAnd standing on end all bristlyO what a sight! Okay, right number of lines, syllable count is fine,Continue reading “Poetry Play”

Table Manners

One of the things that amazed Jenny and I when we were living in Canberra was the attention paid to status. Many of the people we served worked for the government. One’s status was reflected by the designation and level within the department one served, and the suburb you were expected to live in commensurateContinue reading “Table Manners”

The AFL’s Moral Quandary

I am often struck by how often the lectionary speaks into current events. This week Luke 13 gives a slant to the AFL (Australian Football League) Snoop Dogg Dilemma. In Luke 13:10–17, Jesus heals a woman who has been bent over for eighteen years. He does this on the Sabbath, provoking outrage from the synagogueContinue reading “The AFL’s Moral Quandary”

Gardeners in the Dark

The folk gathering for worship this morning were surprised when the power went out. They were left without lyrics and music or a public address system. Further, the church kitchen was out of order for the much anticipated post service pot luck. Our experienced worship leader (96 years young) handled the situation with ease. SheContinue reading “Gardeners in the Dark”

Getting Around – an Ode

I grimaced as he said, “I’ve got news – both good and bad.”My Cerato could be fixed, but the bill would make me sad.Still, hope returned; I give the car one final trusting thought,And reminisce on all the rides I had once proudly bought. (All images on this page are representative and licensed under CreativeContinue reading “Getting Around – an Ode”