The Sacramental Soldier had died. My eight-year-old nephew. He was the second of my sister Peggy’s precious four children. Peggy is the fourth child in our family and I am her older sister and the oldest of our parents’ ten children. I have eight little sisters and one little brother. I used to tease my […]
All God’s Creatures My house It has some termites. My house It is their feast. My house God gave Them termites He really likes them beast. But just like me Them termites Were made by God Creator And God His Greatest work? The termite Exterminator! Hilary McRee Flanery
Proud Plum In orchard of Peach and cherry Apple, pear and plum Children ran and Played so merry Picking fruit from some Apple, peach Cherry, pear Bade the children come But one tree Kept limbs up high She was the purpled plum Between her branches Green with leaves She was morose and glum From childrens’ […]
The Birch Tree Shale-gray morn Lace in purse Thin-paged Missal Scriptural verse. Rosary rattles Scooped from table Will pray ‘fore Mass If I am able. Quiet still Children sleeping One more coffee For my keeping. Back porch view Conscience-clear Trees stand guard There’s naught to fear. For like the tree With anchored root When […]
The Widow’s Might She sat in the pew Her head bowed down The basket coming She made no sound. Oh how she wished To give so much But alas she had No Midas touch. The basket came She shook with fear And into the basket She dropped a tear. Now tears can’t touch Like Midas […]
September Saturday September September How I remember… Apple-pie cobblers Candy-corn gobblers Chewing waxed lips Wax bottle sips Smouldering leaf piles Autumn smoke hazed miles Friday night pancakes Thick syrup Mom makes Skinned up knees falling hard Running in the grade school yard Nine at night give thanks and pray For tomorrow’s a September… Saturday! Hilary […]
The Nazareth Mines (Poem about the Immaculate Conception) When Rome was Of the world – And Master Moon Was free – And Mistress Midnight Bedizened – In show-star Finery. A tiny sparkle Caught Miss Mistress Midnight’s Eye – And captured Master Moon Who paled And gasped a sigh – But Rome still Of the world […]
The Perfect Storm St. Clare, The storm Is coming, St. Barbara, Keep them Well Yet Queen Of Angels Holy This is A taste Of hell. Tsunamis, Earthquakes Shatter, Unjust wars Man can Sell, But queen Of Angels, Holy Her Son Permits To quell If we could For His Glory All Charity Perform, Like Holy Mother […]
September’s Light The light is In the sun Of gold To warm you When your thoughts Grow cold. The light is In the wafered Moon Piercing pitch A glorious Boon. The light Reflects in Crystal snow Glittering Mantle Blanketing woe. The light is Stagnant In infants’ souls Glistening water Will deepen Their shoals. The light […]
The Carthusians To be “Hanged in their habits” What a glorious thing, For their silence screamed, “Christ is the King!” And like the Innocents So Holy, that died, With sword-cut bodies Their mothers cried And wept like mothers Do today, Who send their sons Into the fray Like Innocent Carthusians, With staff and rod, Who […]
The Incredible Edible Catholic Egg Incredible, Edible, Catholic egg. For you I’d sell An arm and a leg. Delighting rich And simple Folk. Hard-boiled White Around the yolk. Sometimes scrambled. Sometimes Fried. Often next To bacon’s Side. Spittering, Sputtering, Splashing grease But into my life You bring Such peace. For after Matins’ morning Prayer I […]
Once There was a Father Once, there was a father, Who loved his little girl. He held her hand and walked to Mass So she could see the Pearl. “My darling, there is silver, My darling, there is gold, But the greatest price is sacrifice, The world keeps that untold. The world can give you […]
Five Sons Today five sons Served on the altar Determined boys Who would not falter. Boys at home Who fight and shove But on the altar Assist with love. At home shouting From top of lung On the altar Latin’s sung. At home running Can’t sit still. On the altar Disciplined will. At home throwing […]
Combat Boots I fight the flesh. The world’s no test. When I fight the devil I’m at my best. But combat boots, Size 8 for me, I wear when I fight the Ph. D. Hilary McRee Flanery
The Pearl of York St. Margaret Clitherow A girl, a lady, Wife, a mother, From church of England She saw the other. The other, where, Her church came from. The other, where, The fruit was plumb. The other, where, Her church beat down, And looted jewels For earthly crown. And watching, she, Was irritated, And […]
Your Hand I’d Kiss Your hand, I’d kiss But not for this, The mundane games Men play. Your hand, I’d kiss For doing this, Absolve my sins Away. Your hand, I’d kiss But not for this, That any man Can do. Your hand, I’d kiss, For doing this God’s strong, His choice, the few. Your […]
