Saturday, October 4, 2025

How Beautiful (from Isaiah 52:7)

"The inspirations of the Holy Ghost are quiet, for God speaks in the silent depths of the spirit. "Thomas Merton

How beautiful 
on the mountain
are the feet of him 
who treads
bright paths of
freedom!

From winter's
gray day he
sings into being
new life

peace
and eternal 
light!

Saturday, September 20, 2025

prayer

Photo Brian Federle: Morning, Washington State, Aug. 2014


deep in my center
lies the
word.

it resonates
softly, it
whispers
in my ear.

its lover,
silence,
embraces
the word
like thick mist
caressing
golden
coastal slopes.

but this crude song is
a metaphor,
an anxious gong,
a poor imitation,
a mockingbird.

patiently,
the word
resists
all explanation.

it just simply
is.

(3 Sept. 2010)

Friday, September 19, 2025

Angeles



Just before nightfall

your new leaves
softly sway
in the cool delta breeze,
your limbs glint
in flames of
a deeper shade
where rough trunk rises
from clambering vinca,
to violet fire.

Oh! Dance with the angels!

Dance with Lord
of the Trees!

His breath will stir you to passion.
His song will lull you
to sacred sleep. 


(22 April 2012)