Psalms of Gratitude and Prayer

by John J. Brugaletta

Overview

If part of the reason for half-empty pews in our churches is the white-knuckle grip we have on overused terminology, Psalms of Gratitude and Prayer almost always finds a fresh vocabulary for such terms. But that is only one element in its success. These poems also communicate with a healthy dash of images, usually the lifeblood of poetry that pleases. It is not an easy thing to accomplish, but the author has done it. This book also offers a majority of poems that both scan and rhyme, an added handicap for a poet, but one that he seems to delight in. Besides, as Robert Frost once said, writing poetry without rhyme ""is like playing tennis without a net."" ""John Brugaletta's poems regularly bring me delight with occasionally some searching of conscience. But perhaps the greatest value of these compositions is the way the metaphors stimulate both my mind and emotions to envision the world and my experiences in it in new and insightful ways."" --Ed Curtis, Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Studies, Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, CA ""These are poems to savor for their luxuriant language and for the unexpected perspectives they offer. Brugaletta is the heir of the metaphysical poets--able, like Donne, to invent surprising conceits to explore common human experiences and, like Herbert, to use the homely and familiar to probe complex spiritual realities. By turns wry and reflective, the poems in this collection invite us to know ourselves and to value the alchemy that turns knowledge into wisdom.""  --Patricia L. Hamilton, Winner of the 2015 Rash Award in Poetry; author of The Distance to Nightfall    ""Brugaletta's contemporary and accessible book of psalms is a delightful, thoughtful, and inspirational guide for Christians in their devotions."" --Charles A. Dominick, retired vice president for advancement, Wittenberg University ""Brugaletta's poetry is an always-welcome treat, bringing back and creating memories all at once. His faith and faithful poetic ruminations are on full and glorious display in Psalms of Gratitude and Prayer. From 'Teach Us to Pray' to 'Finis' and 'Dancing with God' in between, Brugaletta gives faith the significant examination it deserves, gracefully making the lessons of his own faith journey accessible to us all."" --Don Schatz, Pastor, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Kenmore, WA John J. Brugaletta is Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fullerton. He is the author of three previous collections of poetry, in addition to two books on Christianity: Discovering the Way of Wisdom, and Scripture's Heroes and Villains. He lives on the northernmost coast of California with his wife Claudia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781532602474
Publisher:	Resource Publications
Publication date:	09/02/2016
Pages:	98
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.20(d)

About the Author

John J. Brugaletta is Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fullerton. He is the author of three previous collections of poetry, in addition to two books on Christianity:  Discovering the Way of Wisdom , and Scripture's Heroes and Villains . He lives on the northernmost coast of California with his wife Claudia.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

Itadaki Masu xiii

Gratitude

Before Praying 3

The Present 4

Better than Best 5

The Benefits of Pain 6

Distractions at Prayer 7

Disaffirmation 9

Bouquet 10

The Lump of Clay to the Potter 11

The Comics Page 12

Tract for Houseguests at the Emperor's Estate 13

Four More Beatitudes 15

Fruit 16

One out of Ten 17

Broken Promise 18

Christmas 19

The Risk in Releasing 21

Seeing 22

Windows 23

Acrobats 24

Grace

Dancing with God 27

First Aid 29

Gem 30

Courting 31

Circular 32

Tulips 33

Lent 34

Age 35

Fall, Winter, Spring 36

Petitions 37

Nightsong 38

Seer 39

The Kingdom Comes 40

Eucharist 41

Teach Us to Pray 42

Generosity

Side by Side 47

The Flowering of Evil 48

House of Injuries 49

David and Judith 50

Charles the Great 51

Postcards from Chaos 52

Preparation of the Bed 53

Working 54

Kiss 55

Lentil II 56

Wisdom

Everything is Otherwise 61

Fox Sparrow 62

Awe 63

Well Water 64

Born Again 65

Containers 66

Belief 68

CPAP 70

Purpose 71

Oracular Meddling 73

Don Quixote the Chickadee 74

Silence 75

Jed into the Wilderness 77

Surprised by the Ease of It 78

Yes, No, and Neither 80

Naming the Logos 81

Finis 82

Proper Prophet 83

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"John Brugaletta's poems regularly bring me delight with occasionally some searching of conscience. But perhaps the greatest value of these compositions is the way the metaphors stimulate both my mind and emotions to envision the world and my experiences in it in new and insightful ways."
—Ed Curtis, Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Studies, Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, CA

"These are poems to savor for their luxuriant language and for the unexpected perspectives they offer. Brugaletta is the heir of the metaphysical poets—able, like Donne, to invent surprising conceits to explore common human experiences and, like Herbert, to use the homely and familiar to probe complex spiritual realities. By turns wry and reflective, the poems in this collection invite us to know ourselves and to value the alchemy that turns knowledge into wisdom." 
—Patricia L. Hamilton, Winner of the 2015 Rash Award in Poetry; author of The Distance to Nightfall   

"Brugaletta's contemporary and accessible book of psalms is a delightful, thoughtful, and inspirational guide for Christians in their devotions."
—Charles A. Dominick, retired vice president for advancement, Wittenberg University

"Brugaletta's poetry is an always-welcome treat, bringing back and creating memories all at once. His faith and faithful poetic ruminations are on full and glorious display in  Psalms of Gratitude and Prayer . From 'Teach Us to Pray' to 'Finis' and 'Dancing with God' in between, Brugaletta gives faith the significant examination it deserves, gracefully making the lessons of his own faith journey accessible to us all."
—Don Schatz, Pastor, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Kenmore, WA

Editorial Reviews

"John Brugaletta's poems regularly bring me delight with occasionally some searching of conscience. But perhaps the greatest value of these compositions is the way the metaphors stimulate both my mind and emotions to envision the world and my experiences in it in new and insightful ways."
—Ed Curtis, Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Studies, Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, CA

"These are poems to savor for their luxuriant language and for the unexpected perspectives they offer. Brugaletta is the heir of the metaphysical poets—able, like Donne, to invent surprising conceits to explore common human experiences and, like Herbert, to use the homely and familiar to probe complex spiritual realities. By turns wry and reflective, the poems in this collection invite us to know ourselves and to value the alchemy that turns knowledge into wisdom." 
—Patricia L. Hamilton, Winner of the 2015 Rash Award in Poetry; author of The Distance to Nightfall   

"Brugaletta's contemporary and accessible book of psalms is a delightful, thoughtful, and inspirational guide for Christians in their devotions."
—Charles A. Dominick, retired vice president for advancement, Wittenberg University

"Brugaletta's poetry is an always-welcome treat, bringing back and creating memories all at once. His faith and faithful poetic ruminations are on full and glorious display in  Psalms of Gratitude and Prayer . From 'Teach Us to Pray' to 'Finis' and 'Dancing with God' in between, Brugaletta gives faith the significant examination it deserves, gracefully making the lessons of his own faith journey accessible to us all."
—Don Schatz, Pastor, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Kenmore, WA

From the Publisher