Curate contemplations

This recent article I wrote for the Church Times was absolutely fascinating to research:  http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2013/4-october/features/features/the-battle-hymns-of-the-public . To read some powerful poetry about gospel-inspired social justice, take a look at the only surviving copy of the National Chartist Hymn book:  http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/wtw/search/controlservlet?PageId=Detail&DocId=102253

Here are the last few tweet-poems from my river-swimming jaunts in July which I forgot to post at the time... 15 July My neighbour joins (a fellow mum), our children stranded inside, The current pulses against pale thighs: we are re-entering our lives. 16 July I wait for the sun, counting down to one, feeling resistant, Once in I can barely swim, the river churns and thumps - equally incalcitrant. 17 July A man eyed me from the bank, dangling his flaccid limbs in the stream, His stares diminished by the undulating phalanx flowing in between.