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POETRY
On the Road
We are always somewhere
on the road to
Emmaus,
heads bowed against the sting
of wind-whipped sand.
Concerned
with making miles
before the end of day
we do not always hear
the
summons sent to us.
What does it mean to realize
resurrection from the
dead?
The answer is never
all that clear and the road
makes so many
twists and turns
through Gaza, Guatemala,
Colombia, Rwanda, Israel and
Sudan.
All we really know is that
we must follow where it leads
and
only stop to make repairs
along the way
until we meet once again
in
Galilee.
-- Clarence. C. Kean
Portsmouth, N.H.
October in Emmitsburg
Sun backlights the gold trees.
Suddenly they jump
up,
out of the dark
at the end of daylight saving time.
Moon rides
the sky,
hovering over the mountain.
It’s inner trickery
to
love the fall.
-- Sr. Anne Higgins, DC
Emmitsburg, Md.
To Whirl or not to Whirl
Shivering like a whirlabout
in a light wind,
she
cowers in the cold corridor,
in double hospital gowns,
one secured in
back,
the other in front,
contemplating passersby,
who don’t see
her,
talk while they walk.
Not watching their feet.
Not heeding their
power.
Oh ye of easy gait,
she chides,
be conscious,
give
praise to your gastrocnemii,
sing hosannas to your knees,
acclaim your
rolling hips,
applaud your ankles,
clever joints
that link your feet
and legs.
Shout to the Lord in gratitude
because you can arise and
walk,
click your heels,
and whirl about.
-- Margery Frisbie
Arlington Heights, Ill.
Abundance
The old farmhouse waits,
with lilacs
and iris
blooming,
for the grievers to arrive --
The mothers, the brothers,
the sisters, the fathers,
the children -- the large,
aching body of
humanity --
the train of black and
blue travelers,
from
Tennessee
and Rome, Italy.
The cobwebs are swept,
the dishes are
done,
the beds are made,
the curtains drawn --
The sun is shining,
the grass is long --
uncut, and ugly-beautiful,
with yellow
dandelions.
Profuse
abundance
of light
and dark.
-- Julie Geiger
Everest, Kan.
Poems should be previously unpublished and limited to about 50
lines and preferably typed. Please send poems to NCR POETRY, 115 E.
Armour Blvd., Kansas City MO 64111-1203. Or via e-mail to
poetry@natcath.org or fax (816) 968-2280. Please include your street
address, city, state, zip and daytime telephone number. NCR offers a
small payment for poems we publish, so please include your Social Security
number.
National Catholic Reporter, November 15,
2002
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