This is for this prompt about Veterans’ Day. Follow the link to read more.
Put down your weapons —
Saint Martin’s intercession
this Armistice Day
For more on Saint Martin, whose feast day in the Catholic Church is November 11th, click here.
Christian Poetry
Life’s Blessing
Being — a gift
Lasting for
Eternity ; God
Said we would live, not
Simply now — forever.
Immortal is the soul,
Now is the time
Given to befriend Him.
This was written a few days ago, and I am sharing it with the Poetry Pantry.
An Abyss of Blessings
Today’s poem is inspired by the fact that, in the Catholic Church, today is the memorial of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. She lived from 1647 to 1690. I read this quotation from one of her letters this morning:
“This divine heart [of Christ] is an abyss of all blessings, and into it the poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need.”
The quotation led to this poem.
“Abyss” is an unusual word
To use referring to what’s good;
Yet in this paradox is heard
A depth of wisdom. Ask this: “Could
The Lord allow something that seems
To be unloving to our eyes?”
Yes, out of darkness God redeems
The suffering, and can surprise
Our own hearts with what He creates.
So out of the abyss can soar
More happiness. The one who waits
With hope will see such joys outpour.
Note: Shared with Angie Trafford’s Writing Wednesday because I mentioned darkness. Also shared with DVerse OLN.
Getting to the Destination
One day we will understand
That the bends in the path,
The winding in the road,
The detours along the street
And even into wild unknown —
One day we will understand
And rest content with the path,
Surprisingly, exactly the right road,
Some say this happens in heaven’s streets.
Is it hell to remain unknown?
Fandango challenges us today to write about detours.
Prowling
The devil is prowling
Like a roaring lion,
Looking for someone
To devour —
Shall I pray
“Save me from this hour?”
Father, glorify your name.
In this den
Close the mouth of the lion
And make him tame.
Though I did not use the word in this poem, it was inspired by Fandango’s one-word prompt, which is “threat”. Also, it is based on Bible verses.
Thou hast out of Thy plenitude…
I wrote this poem earlier today and am sharing it with DVerse’s open link night.
Thou hast out of Thy plenitude enriched
The soul which seekest Thine abundant light:
Thou strengthenest the soul which wants to fight
For holiness, and battle wounds are stitched
And healed with Thine o’erflowing love,
Perhaps they leave a scar but without pain.
The soul agrees, to live is Christ, death gain —
And even Thou hast nail-scarred hands above.
Mercy: A Ghazal
Shared with DVerse open link night.
Our God made manifest, His name is Mercy.
One of His greatest claims to fame is mercy.
Jesus of Nazareth, both God and man,
The biggest reason why He came is mercy.
He has authority to forgive sins,
He showed in healing the blind and lame, His mercy.
He is the one Good Shepherd, saving souls,
The force with which He stakes on hearts a claim, is mercy.
He warned of hell, but listen now to this:
God is a fire of love; even the flame is mercy.
“Go and do the same,”He says, and so I’ll try,
He calls this Writer by her name, in mercy.
