poetry party 34: gifts of creation

Abbey of the Arts: poetry party 34


Christine invites us "to write poems in honor of the gift of earth and the ways God is revealed to you through stone or mountain, flower or fruit. Let this be your hymn of praise to creation." I added a title to one of my favorite photographs of Nick's backyard garden in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood: poetry party 34

Gifts of Creation

these plants remind me
life is persistent
they tell me I share history
with Nick
with the city of Boston
with the ground
with all creation
with the entire people of God
everywhere in every time

these plants remind me
easter dawn rises
from the heart of the earth
resurrection happens after death

these plants remind me
the ground holds nutrients
that generate life

this image reminds me
the land has nurtured my own gifts
by providing a place
and physical stuff

this image reminds me
creation does not discriminate
but freely offers life to all

these plants remind me
the church is moving into
the green and growing season
called ordinary time

poetry party 33

Abbey of the Arts Poetry Party 33


Christine observes,

...We celebrate Easter for a full 50 days, days that slowly grow longer in the Northern hemisphere and more vibrant as the blossoming of the world unfolds around us. ... I invite you to write a poem (or other form of reflection) about what your practices of resurrected life might look like. How would it feel to really embody resurrected life in your own being? If you made a commitment for the Easter season to complement your Lenten commitment, where is the invitation you discover?

practicing resurrection
living "as if" it is Easter
being and basking
in the subtle sheen of
early Easter dawn
that always surprises

but this is Easter
this is Pentecost
this is the reign of the Spirit of Life!

Christ has died;
Christ is Risen;
Christ will come again.

how do we forget so quickly and easily?
how do we keep living "as if?"
how do we follow the Risen One?

remember the witness of scripture...
"while it was still dark, the stone was rolled away!"