National Catholic Reporter
The Independent Newsweekly
NCRONLINE.ORG
 
POETRY
Issue Date:  May 14, 2004

POETRY

For Those Who Labor Below Union Wage

For those who wake to work
with dark
I pray an old astronomer’s
moon,
with clouds as thin as bridal
veil,
A one-car bridge over quieted
river,
stars arcing horizon to horizon
line,
sufficient to bless their
graveyard shift

* * *

And for those who wake to
work first light
I pray that same moon, but
southward,
a wafer-thin-as-Communion
moon,
and sun, centered suddenly
overhead,
a before-you-even-know-it
noon,
and all green lights to lead them
home.

* * *

For those who rise to work
between the hours
of dusk and dark, I pray a
haloed sun at set,
an aureole, leaf gold as
a Byzantine icon --
promise of moonlight by
break time,
a clarity of air that only angels
breathe,
greetings of workers, both
coming and going.

-- Chet Corey
Bloomington, Minn.

National Catholic Reporter, May 14, 2004

This Week's Stories | Home Page | Top of Page
Copyright  © The National Catholic Reporter Publishing  Company, 115 E. Armour Blvd., Kansas City, MO   64111
All rights reserved.
TEL:  816-531-0538     FAX:  1-816-968-2280   Send comments about this Web site to:  webkeeper@natcath.org