St. Francis and the Birds The birds flocked To hear St. Francis Tell them stories of creation And how they first played The sky like a huge harp, Their wings plucking Strings of pure air While warbling canticles On the splendor of flight. Philip C. Kolin
God’s Favorite Language After Compline, Brother Leo started his wordless pilgrimage around St. Bernard’s canopied with stars that sang their light. Quiet became his passport into the kingdom to come. His prayers were invisible like the God whom he served but who spoke to him in the Creator’s favorite language to share mysteries and prophecies, […]
Beaded Waves The sand waits for the waves to come home. But they cannot stay. The horizon calls them back to the edge of the world closest to heaven but first they must do the work God asks and exchange brine for the healing balm they carry in each beaded roll. Philip C. Kolin
In Pilsen Snow, Philip C. Kolin has written a collection of poems that share his stories of growing up as one of many Czeck immigrants in Pilsen: a neighborhood located on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois. I have had the privilege of reading Kolin’s poems over the years. His are of a standard that many, including myself, aim to achieve. It […]
Construction Sunday–Fourth Sunday in Advent The waiting and watching are soon to stop. God calls us to get busy building this Sunday A dwelling for His son. An ark in a tent Is too temporary, unfit unwelcome For Him who will reign over The House of Jacob. Forever requires More than polished cedar or golden […]
Rejoice Sunday–Third Sunday in Advent In this time of waiting, watching The cold December grays Are decorated with anticipation — Banquets of glad tidings, the earth miraculously Greened from watercourses flowing From the stars. Mary’s sumptuous Magnificat Followed by rounds of Gaudetes on monks’ lips and Priests processing in pink colored vestments. Then comes the […]
Prepare Sunday–Second Sunday in Advent Prepare the geography of your soul For the caller of every ewe, The shepherd of verdant proclamations: Water the wastelands of unforgiveness With torrential tears See dust turn to dew. Level the mountains of peaked pride So they become grazing fields Feeding the least and hungriest of these, All those […]
Alert Sunday–First Sunday in Advent Alert Sunday. The greeter has smiles on his palms as he Opens the church doors. Welcome to Advent! A shorter version of Lent in December, he quips. A chorus of coughs and women’s high Heels parading across the floor tiles Help me stay awake for 8:00 a.m. Mass. I never […]
Requiem for the Homeless Man He died of an overdose of neglect; who cares that he was one of the hidden people exiled from smiles. His sores were so heavy he had to lean them against a wall, a bench, or a gate, or let them fall into the gutter where he belonged who cares? […]
The Boarder Baby A boarder baby comes Into this hospice world A miracle wrapped In a flesh caftan Breathing heaven’s air From the womb of time Syllables from the Talmud Trickle softly from His parted lips Into mystery. In his throat Stars sing Canticles to the sun until Silver nitrate psalms Poured the root of […]
The Call Two old aunts After many decades were called To raise an orphaned nephew Angels left behind but could not tame Into holiness; he was empty, So they feasted him On their sacrificing. When he needed gates, They petitioned a builder For a small house; they didn’t own A down payment. Their prayers And […]
