Amethyst Review: Runwell

My latest poem, entitled 'Runwell', has been published today by Amethyst Review. 'Runwell' takes the reader on a visit to St Mary's Runwell, while also reflecting on the spirituality of the space plus its history and legends. 

I read 'Runwell' at the One Beautiful World Arts Festival poetry reading with Tim Harrold, held on Saturday at St Catherine's Wickford. I also read a poem about Julian of Norwich which is being published by Amethyst Review this month as part of an anthology of poems (All Shall Be Well) celebrating the 650th anniversary of Julian's shewings. Click here for more information about the anthology and here for its online launch event. This poem is based on a large painting 'The Revelations of Julian of Norwich' by Australian artist Alan Oldfield which is to be found at the Belsey Bridge Conference Centre in Ditchingham, Norfolk.  

Reflect in the magnificent mediaeval building that is St Mary’s Runwell, and relax in its beautiful churchyard with two Quiet Days. St Mary’s itself is often described by visitors and by regular worshippers as a powerful sacred space to which they have been drawn. Experience this yourself, while also exploring its art and heritage. Quiet Day: Creation, Wednesday 31 May, 10.30 am – 3.30 pm, St Mary’s Runwell. A day spent reflecting on creation and our environment in the beautiful environs of St Mary’s Church and its churchyards. Led by Revd Sue Wise, Team Vicar, Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry. Quiet Day: Poetry & prayer, Saturday 1 July, 10.30 am – 3.30 pm, St Mary’s Runwell. Explore prayer through poetry, with poems about prayers and poems that are prayers. Enjoy poems by John Berryman, John Donne, Carol Ann Duffy, George Herbert, and Ann Lewin, among others. Led by Revd Jonathan Evens, Team Rector, Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry. Each of the Quiet Days costs £8.00 per person, including sandwich lunch (pay on the day). To book: Phone 07803 562329 or email jonathan.evens@btinternet.com.

Amethyst Review is a publication for readers and writers who are interested in creative exploration of spirituality and the sacred. Readers and writers of all religions and none are most welcome. All work published engages in some way with spirituality or the sacred in a spirit of thoughtful and respectful inquiry, rather than proselytizing.

The Editor-in-chief is Sarah Law – poet (mainly), tutor, occasional critic, sometime fiction writer. She has published five poetry collections, the latest of which is 'Ink’s Wish'. She set up Amethyst Review feeling the lack of a UK-based platform for the sharing and readership of new literary writing that engages in some way with spirituality and the sacred.

Three of my poems have appeared in Amethyst Review previously. They are: 'Are/Are Not', 'Attend, attend' and 'Maritain, Green, Beckett and Anderson in conversation down through the ages'. I have also had several poems in Stride magazine, including several reflecting on other poets, beginning with the artist-poet David Jones, continuing with Dylan Thomas and ending with Jack Clemo. To read my poems published by Stride, click here, here, here, here, and here.

Several of my short stories have been published by International Times, the Magazine of Resistance, including three about Nicola Ravenscroft's mudcub sculptures, which we exhibited at St Andrew's Wickford last Autumn. The first story in the series is 'The Mudcubs and the O Zone holes'. The second is 'The Mudcubs and the Clean-Up King', and the third is 'The mudcubs and the Wall'. 

My other short stories to have been published by International Times are 'The Black Rain', a story about the impact of violence in our media, 'The New Dark Ages', a story about principles and understandings that are gradually fading away from our modern societies, and 'The curious glasses', a story based on the butterfly effect.

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Bruce Cockburn - Us All.