Welcome to our Poet Laureate page.
Central Church is fortunate to have a creative talent like Ilse who directs the Church’s writing mission.
To All Central Poets
You are invited to address two new themes for the Poets Page:
- “Depression, Personified” (in view of the Lenten season)
- “Hope, Personified” (in view of Easter)
Feel free to address each topic, either separately, or both–together in the same poem.
As is true with all submissions, submit only those poems that have been finally edited to satisfaction. Include your photo and a short biography with your submission (not mandatory).
Address your poetry to poetlaureate@centralchurch.us
Introduction: Poems for Advent – MARY AT CENTRAL
Advent Poems
Peoples’ attitudes and opinions vary where their image of the Mother of God is concerned.
She is considered of little importance by some. Others glorify and revere her as an intermediary between her and her son.
No matter what your thoughts are about the Virgin Mary, she was God’s Chosen One. She sang a beautiful
song (the “Magnificat”) to the Father and deserves to have songs and poems composed about her.
She has insprired countless artists throughout the ages.
There are many names for her, among them “The Lady,” “Star of the Sea,” and. of course “Madonna.”
- Mother of God – May Grant
- Haiku to Mary – George Delany
- From Mary – Kathy Lowe Hart
- Poem for a Blue Page – Janet Jagger
- Mary – By Claudia Demick
- Mother May I? – Anonymous
- Wings of the Dove – Susan Swain Tabor
- Mother of Us All – Anna Tanalski
- Who is Mary? – Gretchen Yealy
- Mater Dolorosa – Ilse Kramer
- Me and Mary – Rose Dunlap
Newest Contributions
- Mother of God – May Grant
- Haiku to Mary – George Delany
- From Mary – Kathy Lowe Hart
- Poem for a Blue Page – Janet Jagger
- Mary – By Claudia Demick
- Mother May I? – Anonymous
- Wings of the Dove – Susan Swain Tabor
- Mother of Us All – Anna Tanalski
- Who is Mary? – Gretchen Yealy
- Mater Dolorosa – Ilse Kramer
- Me and Mary – Rose Dunlap
- Catalpa Summer – Susan Swain Tabor
- ROADMAP – Ilse Kramer
- Shift II – Susan Swain Tabor
- Ars Poetica – Ilse Kramer
We want to hear from you!
Do you write? Any member of the Central Church community who has something to say is invited to submit a document no longer than 250 words. We will be asking Church members to submit creative writing samples which will be showcased here on a regular basis.
- All poems submitted must contain a title and signature.
- We acknowledge poems that reflect ideas and attitudes of our family of faith and do not reflect the official views of this congregational church.
- We do not publish on an obligatory basis.
- The writings will be read and examined for errors, but not edited .
- The author is responsible for the final form.
- Please be sure to include your contact information.
- We want to hear from you!
Please submit your poems so we can post them on the Church website (www.centralchurch.us) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.
Ilse Kramer
Central’s Poet Laureate: Ilse Kramer
Ilse wrote her first verse, a sentimental jingle, in Germany in first grade. She eventually progressed to sonnets, hexameter, haiku, and acrostics. Her first English poem, “Interpretation,” 1963, won second prize in a poetry exhibition. Some of her poetry has been published in a literary magazine, the Providence Journal, Central News, and in anthologies.
Ilse has also published a bibliography of early German Americana at Brown University, and a novel, Pimpinella.
