Maybe St. Joseph Was just as broken as My father. We paint a rosy picture– Joseph cradles a sleeping Mary Joseph covers the baby Jesus Joseph works in his shop And the doves gather As the lilies bloom. But maybe We’re wrong. And our heart-cries For perfection have forgotten: Joseph was not announced by anContinueContinue reading “2. The holy (broken) family”
Tag Archives: poetry
Stories from the desert
I once sat in a table discussion at a workshop We were asked to share about God’s work in our lives. Every story, told, took a matter of minutes. But, I was struck that every story used a phrase like, “And a long time later,” Or, “Over the course of years…” To say a phraseContinueContinue reading “Stories from the desert”
Are there rice crispy treats in heaven?
Heaven, like God, is not bound by time. My sister once nearly cried herself to sleep trying to wrap her elementary-schooled mind around the eternal nature of God and the experience scarred me, so, I don’t often try to ponder the implications of God’s everlasting presence. Besides, of course, that heaven will last forever. IContinueContinue reading “Are there rice crispy treats in heaven?”
The poetry of life
Once, when I was a child, I memorized (because of school) a poem about the ocean. I had never seen an ocean; I live several hundred miles inland on a giant continent. But, I learned a poem about the ocean: the way the spray flies through the air, the way the wind sings, the wayContinueContinue reading “The poetry of life”
Queens. In secondhand dresses.
The women of Detroit are a regal, scrappy bunch. Anywhere else why would reign as Queens CEO’s Celebrated leaders of parliament– Well-loved by nations via Parades on their birthdays and their faces on Postage stamps. We would see them in our newspapers, Pray for them in church. The potential has been sucker-punched away, though, byContinueContinue reading “Queens. In secondhand dresses.”
Friend Poem No. 5
I have a friend Named Tim Whom I met Over a cubicle wall– Me telling him too many stories Me laughing too loud Me making people think HE was the trouble-maker Me “volunteering” him for more, frantic life. I would send him notes Through a crack In the wall. He would send the paper backContinueContinue reading “Friend Poem No. 5”
Friend poem No. 4
I have a friend Named Hanna. One of my oldest friendships, A cousin. On Friday she wore stripes And I said– “Like a raccoon” And she twisted her head like a raccoon, Pranced a dance to the table Her hands pulled Chest-ward Like paws. We went camping in August, Hanna and I. Five days ofContinueContinue reading “Friend poem No. 4”
Friend Poem No. 3
I have a friend Named Julia. She sometimes writes me letters– Snail mail– In cards she has designed herself, Her practiced hand switching from script to CAPS. She writes of saints, Flowers, Love, Friendship. She picks flowers, Sketches heaven, Buys dark chocolate. She cuts her hair short, Announces to her office that They will beContinueContinue reading “Friend Poem No. 3”
Friend Poem No. 2
I have a friend Named Joseph A nation-known legend Brilliant at musical score. Other people tell me this But we rarely speak of it. Sometimes we call each other With good reason, too– Busy, bustling business. Only–he laughs too easily, And then I do, too, And we digress over and Over and over Into storyContinueContinue reading “Friend Poem No. 2”
Friend Poem No. 1
I have a friend Named Noah. A Viking man– Broad and bearded. He is the Ferdinand the Bull of Vikings. His solid shoulders could Plunder villages, His brawny knuckles Break through doors, Carry piglets to the ship, Him unheeding his bleeding cuts. But, He doesn’t. Sometimes he makes his sister Picnics. Her favorite foods InContinueContinue reading “Friend Poem No. 1”
Seashell Nell 