Humiliations (Haikus) Chisel cutting stone Sculpter’s blow carves, molds, and lights Forms stones into hearts Some are well deserved Some are most beneficial Illumination Humiliations Tear a wound in tender hearts Beware, lest you kill… I don’t regret mine Reject Humiliations? They straighten the spine! Never be the cause~ Reject humiliating! Choose kindness and love. […]
At The Foot of the Cross My Son is dead now His suffering is past And from that cruel cross They bring him at last. I hold His still hands Now pierced and so torn, His fair face is ghastly From lashes and thorn. His pure eyes so lovely Are closed now in peace, What […]
The Elixir Teach me, my God and King, In all things Thee to see, And what I do in anything To do it as for Thee. Not rudely, as a beast, To run into an action; But still to make Thee prepossest, And give it his perfection. A man that looks on glass, On it […]
On Death, without Exaggeration It can’t take a joke, find a star, make a bridge. It knows nothing about weaving, mining, farming, building ships, or baking cakes. In our planning for tomorrow, it has the final word, which is always beside the point. It can’t even get the things done that are part of its […]
The Potter Sinner that I am O God, Still You give me Your quill To write the words that are on my heart When the evening is still. You touch me in the gentlest way, And you tear my heart within me. You fill me with wondrous praise, And prayers come out from in me. […]
A Coffin—is a Small Domain A Coffin—is a small Domain, Yet able to contain A Citizen of Paradise In it diminished Plane. A Grave—is a restricted Breadth— Yet ampler than the Sun— And all the Seas He populates And Lands He looks upon To Him who on its small Repose Bestows a single Friend— Circumference […]
The Lullaby of Tears When Jesus was a little child As evening’s shadows lay, The Holy Virgin held Him close For tired was He from play. And Heaven sent in shining white The angels to their King Who kissed His precious baby hands Then knelt to pray and sing. The flowers bloomed to hear their […]
Independence Day, USA Fourth of July Emblazoned so high, That children may see By history. And for young and old Of most every mold Who want to learn, Who can discern How the past does sing That freedom may spring From the muskets’ fumes When tyranny looms; How to fight for right Lest darkness and […]
Final Vows 10/28/04 If in this hour we are not one, All is not right with my soul. For we have chosen to wed this moment. You and I ….each a part of this moment. We are joined O lord for you have beckoned me. We are joined O Lord because I came willingly. Even […]
Jim This one’s for you, the man you’ve become. There were many years we had no connection, for whatever reason we’ve made the correction. We’ve missed so much because of the choices we’ve made, and there seems little time to make up the gain. So before it is too late for you to know, that […]
Beloved Beloved, how can you be troubled now This final hour of unfriendly night, When Christ has pledged, as with a marriage vow, To take you to His house of cheery light? If lavishly He spilled the bottled wine To celebrate your love; if eagerly He slipped into the thorny ring as sign And seal […]
Confirmation Day Be with me my child, Be with me my friend. Walk with me in your lifetime And your life will never end. Be with me my servant Be true to only me. And I have given my word, That I shall always be with you. Receive me this day child, I have waited […]
They Won’t Forget Him You have so few friends anywhere A man who’s marked with ill-respect, For some a failure in affairs, Associates are false, defect Who wants to know a man of grief Admired by the stupid poor? Only some revolting thief And those who stink of fish, the boors You’re lower class, invisible […]
Sometime ago, my father and I went to get some fast-food for lunch. While there, a mother and three daughters came in. My father became silent, and discreetly watched them order their carry-out and then leave. “Do you know them?” I asked, when they’d left. “No. Not really” he said, then proceeded to tell me […]
The Priest The Priest, the portal in this world Through which the Christ will pass, Unfolding like a snow white rose In priestly hands at Mass. Our Lady’s consecrated son One chosen from all men To baptise, marry, lay to rest And heal us of our sin. His sacrifice no equal knows His value beyond […]
Ouranophobia (A Fear of Heaven) I laugh at toothless death; I fear it not; For if the Savior rose so shall His own; And He arose indeed. So I, blood-bought, Find with my guilt that all my fear is gone. Or almost all; one dread no deed removes: The Holy Thing Isaiah saw I’ll hear […]
