Copyright
Unless otherwise noted, the original translations and poems on this site are by middlingpoet and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Author Archives: middlingpoet
Psalm 46
This is a good psalm for closing the old year and ringing in the new. Below is my metricization. Like my version of Psalm 110, it’s written for the ancient tune “Rouen a Rouen” (also known as “Iste Confessor“). I … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Psalm 100
Psalm 100 does not need a new metrical version. “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” says it all. But I only recently realized that the Hebrew structure to Psalm 100 is odd. Its verses each have three lines. (This … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Psalm 110
I’ve been working on a few metrical psalms with an unusual rhyme scheme. The model is the thousand-year-old hymn my Anglican church uses for its Feast of Dedication: “Only Begotten, Word of God eternal” (9th century). This is one of … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
O King all glorious
O King all glorious, amid thy saintly company, Who ever shalt be praised, who over passest utterance. Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, And we are called by thy Holy Name; Leave us not, O Lord our … Continue reading
Posted in Anglican, Catholic, Church Year
Tagged anthems, Christ the King, Christianity, Poetry, songs
Leave a comment
A word from Brahms
… with a few internal rhymes. Let nothing ever grieve thee, distress thee, nor fret thee; Heed God’s good will, my soul, be still, compose thee. Why brood all day in sorrow? Tomorrow will bring thee God’s help benign and … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Lutheran, Romanticism
Tagged Christianity, music, Poetry, Romantics, songs
Leave a comment
Tyndale and the Lord of the Rings
If you’re wondering what those two have in common, check out this video promoting a new Tyndale oratorio. It’s the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, after all!
Posted in Anglican, Baptist, Brethren, Catholic, Church Year, Current Events, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Presbyterian, Thanksgiving
Tagged Christianity, Lord of the Rings, Luther, music, Reformation, Reformation500, Tyndale
Leave a comment
Heavenly Salem
Here’s an early Christian hymn, sung at the dedication of church buildings. For my Protestant friends, it’s kind of like “The Church’s One Foundation” (S. J. Stone, 1866) — only better. Blessed City Blessèd city, heavenly Salem, vision dear of … Continue reading
Posted in Anglican, Catholic, mysticism
Tagged anthems, bridal mysticism, Christianity, Hymns, Latin, Poetry, urban dwelling
Leave a comment
Man is great with God
How great we have become! The highest Seraphim Go veiled before our God. But we go nude to Him. ~ Angelus Silesius, Cherubinischer Wandersmann, III.203
Posted in Angelus Silesius, Translations
Tagged angels, Christianity, mysticism, Poetry
Leave a comment
The Fair Glory
Today is Michaelmas, the feast of St. Michael and All Angels. And here is an ancient hymn. Written in the 800s, it asks for the help of angels, invoking their powers as guides, guards, and conquerors of serpents. But interestingly, … Continue reading
Posted in Anglican, Catholic, Church Year, Hymns
Tagged angels, anthems, Christianity, Hymns, music, Poetry
Leave a comment
Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
This is a holiday week! The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels is on Sept. 29. In preparation, here’s an angel-worthy hymn. It was written by Athelstan Riley and published in 1906 — thus proving that great hymnody could … Continue reading
Posted in Anglican, Catholic, Church Year, Eastern Orthodox, Hymns
Tagged angelology, angels, anthems, Christianity, Greek, hymnody, Latin, Poetry
Leave a comment
The Middle Room 