I am sharing my day 12 poem with the Writers’ Pantry. This was inspired by the fact that today is Easter, as well as John 20:11-16.
When it was still dark,
I went to the tomb.
For even the darkness
Is lighter with you:
You know the darkness too.
I stood there weeping,
With you taken away.
With weeping was praying,
Which you heard — and I turned,
Since you know my name.
Day 10. I wasn’t going to post this but have not been able to write anything better for Frank’s prompt at DVerse about seven-line poems.
The virus isolation breaks my heart,
Especially with no Eucharist received
Nor even seen in person — though apart
And with so many others, greatly grieved,
Faith lives in hope — she’s blessed who has believed.
I live-stream watching Mass and Tenebrae, *
Lamenting that they’ve taken Him away.
*Tenebrae is a liturgical service during Holy Week. If you want to know more, click here.
This tanka (or maybe it is a kyoka) responds to three prompts: mostly Heeding Haiku but also Angie Trafford’s writing Wednesday and JusJoJan day 30. Thank you to all the prompters!
Pummeled broken heart
Knocked down to the ground, knocked out
Gets back in the ring
An indomitable soul
Takes heart, fights again for love
The above photo is of some recent coloring that I did.
For the final prompt in the Imaginary Garden, we are revisiting some of the best prompts throughout the years. I chose to write (again) to Sanaa’s prompt about water.
All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was.
– Toni Morrison
If all water has a perfect memory,
And my body is 75% water,
Is my memory 75% perfect,
And 25% unsure?
My memory, gaslit,
Is imperfect yet legitimate:
My body remembers
What the mind can’t fathom
In depths of horror.
Is it water under the bridge?
Is it running through 75%
Of the same rivulets,
Memory trying to be made pure?
The King of all the people’s has come near,
Rex Gentium — this is the name we laud,
The name belonging only to our God,
Who tells us that we never need to fear
When His great scepter our life wholly guides.
To Him belong all power and control,
Authority and means to make us whole
And love, even when consolation hides.
The One come near can live inside of all
Who will to take upon themselves His yoke:
His yoke is easy and His burden light.
He comes to everyone who deigns to call,
To stoke the flame of love, and in grace soak:
Regard the precious infant born this night.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
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.
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.
