Miracle

“Come, dervishes: here is the water of life. Dance in it.”
Thomas Merton

The night looked bad.

Waves towered,

clouds racing

across the glaring moon,

the sea pounding out

all hope for their little boat,

when a ghost approached,

softly glowing,

impossibly walking across the

wet way.

Terror gripped them.

They saw grim Satan

striding across the waves

to take them down

to his watery hell,

But Peter,

truth clearing his fearful eyes,

saw His face, felt His peace

and, radiant with surging faith,

joyfully stepped over the side

to join his beloved Lord.

His feet touched the soft water.

It was like walking

through shallow puddles.

Lifting his legs

he moved slowly forward,

when looking down,

dark doubt

sucked him under

legs first,

then waist deep.

He cried, "Lord, save me!"

and thrusting his hands

to heaven,

he felt the strong grip raising him back

to life.

(28 Sept. 2012)

Peter's Report

The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulcher

 on the Morning of the Resurrection by Eugène Burnand

Running all the way,

bent double in breathless pain

we peered and saw

the gaping grave

open to the rising sun.

Slowly we entered, our eyes sun-blind,

when we saw the empty bench,

the bloody cloth cast within.

I try to imagine

the piercing flash,

the sudden shudder

of His broken body,

His sharp breath exploding

like a swimmer breaking the surface,

when I saw John’s eyes

outshining the sun,

and my own face

lighting even death's

darkest place!

(24 April 2011, 31 March 2018)

The Denial of St. Peter

Caravaggio, The Denial of St. Peter

On the edge

hands clenched, 

sad eyes downcast

bitter fear forcing tight his lips

he holds his breath

he pauses

as the angry finger
of the state

points at his throat,

hard eyes searching Peter’s

indecision

for rash conviction;

but she, she knows

has seen before

his adoring eyes, heard his 

boastful voice

by the campfire

of the condemned.

Slowly he moves

toward the inevitable lie

as the bloody sun

stirs to song

the drowsy cock.

(7 June 2012)

St. Peter Addressing the Begger

Look up at me, turn

your wide eyes,

expectant, wondering,

hopeful, and see

what I can give.

Do you want a coin? Some-

thing good to eat? Do

you want a little

kindness?

I have none of these

to give you

but the kindness

and the secret of

the seeds of healing

flowing all around you

spring breeze,

swirling gentle desire,

blessing your torn lungs, infusing

your tainted blood, singing

sweetly your freedom!

In His name, then, I command you

to rise and take your place

beside me, and enter into

His holy temple!

(14 April 2013)