Hope

“Hope takes us entirely out of this world while we remain bodily in the midst of it. Our minds retain their clear views of what is good in creatures. Our wills remain chaste and solitary in the midst of all created beauty...”  Thomas Merton, No Man Is An Island

Clear and whole, 

the moon waits,

patient,

solitary self

chastly gazing

on the blazing east 

on the new sun,

the good day.

(3 July 2012)

Christmas Eve, After Mass

The light from the tree

throws gold on my

dark wall.

Night lurks, but

thin windows

keep the wind at bay

as day flows faithfully

to day.

So we wait

for the exuberant sun

to spill reckless warmth

over the grateful Earth.

Life is a prize,

a gift of great value

gold given by the eastern king

to the newborn

child.

So receive it!

Your faith

has saved you.

(24 December 2010)

Listen to That Darkness

"Oh, listen to that darkness, listen to that deep darkness, listen to those seas of darkness on whose shores we stand and die. Now can we have you, peace, now can we sleep in Your will, sweet God of peace? Now can we have Your Word and in Him rest?" Thomas Merton, A Book of Hours.

+++++++++++++

I'll wait in this bright room.

Night rages, windows fade

to none,

and trees bend, thrashed

by your love-song.

For you I'll wait -

Oh when, oh

when

will you come?

(23 Aug 2013)

Transition

The generals line-up, war-plans

in withered hands, ready to strike

the children.

But do not fear this transition!

For above the black clouds, know that He lingers,

Ready to strike!

Then will the blind see and the deaf hear.

Then will we leap for joy

As the mute break forth

In song!

Isaiah 35: 1-6A - 10.

(10 Dec 2016)

Stones in the Darkness

stones in the darkness

cold, unseen, the wind above

my wooden fence sighs

silence in the night;

I hear only my hushed breath,

feel my waning life.

(12/26/2013 - 10 Dec. 2016)

Debate

The man of science said
that in the beginning
there was nothing,
when
obeying some quantum urge,
suddenly everything
emerged..

and that was all.. .

that was just
the way it happened... no need
for God...just cold, hard
cosmic law.

But the poet,
hearing his breath
rush deep within his lungs,
feeling his heart pound in anticipation,
says to his beloved,

“Ha! I found You!”

(24 April 2014)

They Seek You in the Storm

They seek you in the storm

riding high above the lightning, striking

the yielding earth with your fire.

In fields of the dead; in

seeds flung deep -

the generations unknown,

they seek you

in the stars

coldly staring,

your imagined face

in the emptiness of

interstellar

space.

But I know you. 

Lurking

in my lonely night,

alone, I seek.

(31 March 2014; 8 Dec 2016)

terminator

In Memoriam John Glenn: July 18, 1921 – December 8, 2016

Thin line of night, 

edge of living light,

inevitable

as God's mighty hand, 

wipes clean 

this dirty slate

to begin again

a clear, new day.

**

New Year's Eve, 12/31/2011

grace

Hail Mary

full of grace

you are

filled with grace,

with grace

fill me

in streams

of yes

draw me

to where you are

to where He is

among wo-

men,

yes,

among men

blessed

fruitful, grace-

fully gliding

through the

dark veil

at the hour

of yes

to my

death,

amen.

(29 December 2012)

Life...by itself

“Life…by itself has neither purpose nor fulfillment.“ Thomas Merton

Fill my day
with soft breezes.

I hear the birds call;
singing bees
swarm
with the pleasure
of the sting.

Oh! Let me breathe deeply
the innocent air!

Minute by minute
force my life
through thin membranes,

for in the end
sleep will lead me
to bright seas, dreams
of fading mist;

then
fill it full
with your love!

(28 July 2013)