SMORGASBORD

SMORGASBORD


BY



FRANK A VOLLMER

SHIVA

 

WHY RABBI WHY

A DAMAGED

UNUSABLE TORAH

IS BURIED IN THE EARTH

REVERENTLY

BEFITTING THE HOLY PURPOSE

IT ONCE SERVED

A DEAD BODY DESERVES THE SAME RESPECT

IT HOUSED THE SOUL

IT SHOULD BE GIVEN A RITUAL BATH

BECAUSE

CLEAN AND PURE

IT CAME INTO THIS WORLD

SO CLEAN AND PURE IT SHOULD LEAVE

WE SIT SHIVA

FOR SEVEN DAYS

BECAUSE JOSEPH

MOURNED HIS FATHER

SEVEN DAYS

AND JOB’S FRIENDS

IN THE FACE OF HIS GRIEF

WERE SILENT

FOR SEVEN DAYS

UNTIL HE SPOKE

OH THAT I MIGHT NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN

THAN TO SUFFER SUCH PAIN

WE SIT LOW

BECAUSE WE BEEN BROUGHT LOW BY DEATH

AND TO BE NEAR THE BODY

WHICH IS IN THE EARTH

WE ARE AN ANCIENT PEOPLE

MANY OF OUR FOLKWAYS

ARE BURIED IN HISTORY

MYSTERY

OR MYTH

WE BRING STONES

TO THE GRAVE SITE

BECAUSE THE TIME WAS

WHEN THE DEAD WERE COVERED WITH ROCK

TO PREVENT DESECRATION

OR MAYBE

JUST TO SHOW WE WERE THERE

MANY OF LIFE’S EVENTS

ARE COVERED WITH PRAYER

FROM OUR GOING OUT

AND COMING BACK

AND IN BETWEEN

LIFE IS SACRED

AND DEATH

IS THE SOLVER OF RIDDLES

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SHEEPDOG

WE MIGHT AS WELL BE SHEEP DOGS

WE’RE AT THE MALL

 THE WIFE SAYS

WAIT HERE

 I’LL BE OUT IN A MINUTE

I RETIRE TO A BENCH

WAIT

 IN COMPANY OF OTHER MEN

WHO DON’T LIKE SHOPPING

THE CONVERSATION CIRCLES

OVER SPORTS

WEATHER

 SETTLES OVER WHAT’S KEEPING HER

FINALLY SHE COMES OUT

BURDENED WITH BAGS

 WHICH I INHERIT

WE THEN RESUME OUR PILGRIMAGE

TO FIND THE HOLY GRAIL OF BARGAINS

HOWEVER

IF A BOOKSTORE LOOMS

OR A GADGET STORE

AND I SUGGEST I’D LIKE TO GO IN

IN FIVE MINUTES

 I’VE TIMED IT

SHE’S AT MY SIDE SAYING

ARE YOU GOING TO BE ALL DAY

SO BEING THE OBEDIENT SHEEPDOG

I’VE BECOME

I PROGRESS TO THE NEXT STORE

WHERE I SIT OBEDIENTLY

FOR MY MASTER

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RIGHTEOUS

I SUPPOSE THE PROBLEM BEGINS WITH ME

IT USUALLY ALWAYS DOES

BUT MY LATEST HICCUP

ARE THE WORDS

RIGHTEOUS

RIGHTEOUSNESS

THEY ARE CHURCH WORDS

AND NOT UNDERSTOOD

I ASKED SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE

NON CLERGY

WHAT THEY MEAN

I GOT SEVERAL DIFFERENT ANSWERS

SO MUCH FOR CHURCH SPEAK

AND CONFUSING THE LAITY

IN ROMANS 4:3

PAUL WRITES

^“WHAT DOES THE SCRIPTURE SAY

ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD,

AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS” 

WOULDN’T IT BE BETTER SAID

THAT ABRAHAM

BELIEVED GOD

TRUSTED GOD

AND ACTED ON THAT BELIEF

WORDIER MAYBE

BUT I THINK CLEARER

THE WORD WAS COINED BY WILLIAM TYNDALE

FROM AN EARLIER ENGLISH WORD

RIHTWIS

WHOSE ROOTS MEAN RIGHT

AND MANNER OR WAY

HE WAS TRANSLATING THE HEBREW WORD

TZEDEK

WHICH MEANS

UPRIGHT JUST STRAIGHT INNOCENT TRUE SINCERE

SO ABRAHAM ACTED IN A RIGHT WAY

AND IN MANY THINGS HE DID

THEY WERE DONE IN THE RIGHT WAY

FROM BELIEVING GOD

LEAVING EVERYTHING

GOING SOUTH

DEFERRING TO LOT

IN THE DIVISION OF GRAZING LAND

RESCUING LOT WHEN SOLDIERS CAPTURED HIM

DEALING FAVORABLY WITH HIS NEIGHBORS

IN BUSINESS DEALS

NO SHARP PRACTICES

BARGAINING WITH GOD

TO SAVE A VILLAGE

THERE WERE SOME DARK SPOTS TOO

LIKE SENDING HIS WIFE

TO A KIND OF WHOREDOM

BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID

CHASING HIS FIRST SON

AND THE CHILD’S MOTHER

INTO THE WILDERNESS

A POOR TREATMENT

FOR THEY

WHO GOD HAD BREATHED LIFE INTO

A CHILD BORN

BECAUSE HE DIDN’T TRUST GOD

BUT THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC

PUZZLES ME

HE OBEYED GOD

BUT DID HE MISS THE MARK

BY NOT REMINDING GOD

THAT KILLING WAS WRONG

AS GOD SAID TO CAIN

“YOUR BROTHER'S BLOOD

CRIES OUT TO ME

FROM THE GROUND”

I WOULD HOPE SO

SO WE HAVE IN ABRAHAM

A MAN

WHO ACTS NOBLY

AND IGNOBLY

SOMEONE JUST LIKE US

WE ARE CALLED TO LEAVE OUR COMFORT ZONE

TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER THAN IT IS

IS WORLD HUNGER THE RIGHT WAY

BEING POOR

DESTITUTE

THROUGH NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN

IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY

DENYING A MOTHER WHOSE CHILD WAS BORN

WITH A HARELIP

INSURANCE COVERAGE

BECAUSE IT WAS A PREEXISTING CONDITION

IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY

CEO RECEIVING BONUSES

WHILE WORKERS GIVE UP WAGES

IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY

CALLING ONESELF RIGHTEOUS

AND THEN DOING NOTHING

IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY

HATING THE SOJOURNER IN YOUR MIDST

IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY

KILLING CHILDREN IN THE WOMB

IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY

IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME

FOR US TO BE RIGHTEOUS

TO BEAR THE NAME

BUT WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO START THE JOURNEY

AND LIKE A PEBBLE

ROLLING DOWN THE HILL

GRAVITY

AND GOD

WILL HELP US DO THE REST

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Ezekiel 16:49-49

Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door

SODOM

SOMEWHERE ON THE ROAD TO SODOM

THERE’S A SIGN

TELLING THE WHY OF SODOM’S RUIN

Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door

ARE WE NOT IN THE SAME POSITION

WHILE CHILDREN STARVE

WE ARGUE ABOUT SEXUAL PROCLIVITY

WHILE INDUSTRY

DEFRAUDS WORKERS

OF PAY AND PENSION

WE PIOUSLY PRATE

THAT MAN IS CREATED

IN GOD’S IMAGE

PREACHING CHRISTIANITY

WE VOTE FOR WAR

AND GLOAT AT VICTORY

SHOULD WE NOT KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY

LEST ANOTHER RUIN AWAIT US

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HEAR OH ISRAEL

THE LORD YOUR GOD

IS ONE

SH'MA YIS'RA'EIL ADONAI ELOHEINU ADONAI ECHAD

HEAR OH ISRAEL

THE LORD YOUR GOD

IS ONE

A SHOUT OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

A CRY THAT THERE IS NO GOD

BUT GOD

THE PRAYER IS CALLED

THE SHEMA

WHICH MEANS

LISTEN

HARKEN

ACT ON IT

THE WORD ECHAD

MEANS ONE

AS IN ENGLISH

THE WORD ONE HAS MANY MEANINGS

FIRST IN A SERIES

OR ONE OF MANY

AS A QUESTION

ANYONE HERE

AS AN INDICATOR

IS THAT THE ONE

BUT WHEN ALL THE DIFFERENT MEANINGS

HAVE BEEN EXPLORED

THE ONE THAT BEST SPEAKS

TO CREATOR/CREATURE

IS TO USE ONE

AS IN THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE

WHERE EACH PARTNER SAYS

YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE FOR ME

AND THIS IS THE ULTIMATE MEANING

OF SHEMA

SH'MA YIS'RA'EIL ADONAI ELOHEINU ADONAI ECHAD

HEAR OH ISRAEL

THE LORD YOUR GOD

IS ONE

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SNOWSTORM

GRACE COMES LIKE A SNOWSTORM

COVERING WINTER'S DRY STICKS

LEAVING BEAUTY

NOT A NEW THOUGHT

BUT A NEEDED THOUGHT

A REMINDER THOUGHT

THAT THE DRABNESS OF A TIRED SOUL

IS RENEWED BY GRACE

LITTLE THINGS

LIKE

GRANDMOM

GRANDPOP

TELL ME ABOUT JESUS

WHAT DOES THE STORY MEAN

THE LITTLE BABY IN A BARN

LIKE SIMEON

LIKE ANNA

WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE WAITED FOR THIS

SO WHILE THE STORM MADE NEW

WE TOLD THE STORY

DRY STICKS BECAME GREEN

ROSES BLOOMED IN THE SNOW

AND THE WIND THAT HOWLED

TOLD WHISPERS IN OUR EAR

OF GOD'S LOVE

AND THE CHILD SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO HIS NEW FRIEND

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TENEBRAE FOR NICK

THE CANDLES OF HIS BEING

HAVE FLICKERED OUT

TILL ALL THAT REMAINED

WAS THE BRILLIANT LIGHT OF HIS SOUL

REDEEMED BY CHRIST

WE WOULD OFTEN JOKE HE AND I

ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TIMES

WE WERE SENT BACK TO CHANGE OUR ATTIRE

UNTIL OUR WIVES FELT

WE WERE SUITABLY DRESSED FOR CHURCH

YOU WIN NICK

YOUR ROBE

WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB

IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING I OWN

SO I SHALL MOURN YOU BROTHER FRIEND

LAUGHING WITH TEARS

CRYING WITH JOY

KNOWING MY TEARS ARE SHARED

WITH HIM WHO CRIED

WHEN LAZARUS HAD DIED

FAREWELL MY BROTHER FRIEND

AND YET HELLO

FOR YOU ARE MORE ALIVE TO ME NOW

THAN WHEN YOU LIVED

AND I KNOW THE PEACE YOU HAVE

ONE DAY WE SHALL SHARE

TILL THEN MY BROTHER FRIEND

FAREWELL AND HELLO

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SHITTY SHEPHERDS

SHITTY SHEPHERDS

SHEPHERDING

CLEAN SHEEP

SO SAYS THE NOBLE POET

CHAUCER

HOW APT AN IMAGE

A ROLE PLAYED WELL

BY PRIESTS

MINISTERS

RABBIS

POLITICIANS

RULERS

ALL CLOTHED

IN SUNDAY FINERY

WITH THE BEST MANNERS

UNWORTHY SHEPHERDS

OF INNOCENT FLOCKS

TO QUESTION THEM

IS TO QUESTION

THEIR GOD LIKE STANCE

UNHOLY TO DO SO

BUT LATELY

THE SMELL OF THE SHEPHERDS

HAS BECOME TOO GREAT

THEY’VE MADE FRIENDS

WITH THE WOLVES

AND NO LONGER CARE FOR THE SHEEP

AND THE SHEEP

NO LONGER

LISTEN TO THE SHEPHERDS

AND THEIR CALL

TO FOLLOW

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SALT

SALT IS PURE

IF IT LOSES ITS FLAVOR

IT’S NOT THE SALT

BUT FOREIGN MATTER

WHICH IS WHAT JESUS SAYS

BE IN THE WORLD

BUT NOT OF IT

SALT ADDS FLAVOR TO FOOD

LIKE A CHRISTIAN

SHOULD AFFECT

HIS SURROUNDINGS

SALT IS USED FOR HEALING

WHICH IS A PRIMARY TASK

FOR A CHRISTIAN

SALT IS USED

TO PREVENT FOOD FROM GOING BAD

IT’S AN ACTIVE MINERAL

SO SHOULD WE

SALT WAS USED AS A SALARY

REMINDING US

THAT THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH

THE WAGES OF GOODNESS

IS LIFE EVERLASTING

SALT HAS BEEN USED IN BURIAL RITES

A REMINDER

OF THE GREAT PRICE

CHRIST PAID

SALT IS USED IN SOME RITES AT BAPTISM

AS A SIGN OF PRESERVING THE SOUL FROM SIN

SALT

SO GREAT A THING

SO SMALL A THING

LIKE GOD AND ME

COME FLAVOR MY LIFE

WITH YOUR SWEETNESS

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THE DREAM

WE FOUND IT DEEP IN THE WOODS

FAR FROM THE PATH

THE RUINS OF THE HOUSE

AND THE OLD STONE FENCE

YOU COULD TELL THE GARDEN

IN THE DIFFERENCE IN TREES

AND BUSHES GONE WILD

THE MOUNTAINEER'S CABIN

HARD BY A STREAK

YOU COULD MARK OFF HIS FIELDS

BY FOLLOWING HIS FENCE

EACH STONE HAND CARRIED TO BUILD IT

AS HE FOUND THEM

ON A SLOPE SO STEEP

YOU COULD PICTURE THEIR SAYING

IF YOU DON’T HOLD ONTO THE PLOW

YOU'LL FALL OUT OF THE FIELD

YOU WONDER

WHEN HE BUILT THE HOUSE AND FENCE AND PLOWED

DID HE THINK IT WOULD COME TO THIS

OR DID HE SEE A LINE OF SONS COMING AFTER

LOVING THE LAND AS HE DID

IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER I SUPPOSE

WHAT COUNTS IS

HE HAD A DREAM

AND TRIED TO MAKE IT REAL

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TAP-TAP

IN THE CHURCH

WHERE I ATTENDED TENEBRAE

ON GOOD FRIDAY

THERE WAS A CEREMONY

IT BEGAN WHEN WE ENTERED THE CHURCH

WE WERE GIVEN A SMALL SQUARE OF BLACK PAPER

AND TOLD IT REPRESENTED OUR SINS

AS WE ENTERED THE NAVE

WE HAD TO PASS

A BIG

UNADORNED

WOODEN

CROSS

AS THE SERVICE PROGRESSED

LIGHTS DIMMING

CANDLES GOING OUT

WE REACHED THE CRUCIFIXION

WE WERE THEN ENCOURAGED

TO NAIL OUR SINS TO THE CROSS

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP…..TAP

NOW MOST OF OUR SINS

ARE HOUSEHOLD SINS

FEW WOULD SHOCK

A FATHER CONFESSOR

MOST OF OUR SINS

ARE THE RESULT OF SHEER STUPIDITY

WE MADE THE WRONG DECISION

FEW OF US ARE DELIBERATELY EVIL

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP…..TAP

WE PRAY

IN YOUR COMPASSION

FORGIVE US OUR SINS

KNOWN AND UNKNOWN

THINGS WE HAVE DONE

THINGS WE HAVE FAILED TO DO

OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

THREE REFER TO GOD

THE OTHER SEVEN

REFER TO OUR NEIGHBOR

CHRIST HAS SAID

WHATEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST

YOU DO UNTO ME

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP…..TAP

THE SOCIAL GOSPEL

IS NOT AN ADDENDUM

TO THE GOSPEL

IT IS THE GOSPEL

HOW WE TREAT THE POOR

IS GOSPEL

HOW WE TREAT THE IMMIGRANT

 IS GOSPEL

HOW WE TREAT THE SEXUALLY DIFFERENT

IS GOSPEL

HOW WE TREAT THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT

IS GOSPEL

WHEN A POVERELLO

WITHOUT CLEAN WATER

AND LIVES IN A SHED

ASKS

WHAT HAPPENED TO GOD’S PLAN FOR ME

WHAT IS OUR ANSWER

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP…..TAP

THESE

AND OTHERS

ARE OUR SECRET SINS

ONCE WE RECOGNIZE THEM

WE NEED TO REPENT

WHEN I GO TO HEAVEN

AND THE RECORDING ANGEL

ASKS ME

WHY I WASN’T GREAT LIKE ABRAHAM

I’LL REPLY

I DIDN’T HAVE HIS GREAT VISION

WHEN HE ASKS ME

WHY I WASN’T GREAT LIKE MOSES

I’LL REPLY

I DIDN’T HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP ABILITY

WHEN HE ASKS ME

WHY I

WASN’T AS GREAT AS I COULD BE

I HAVE NO ANSWER

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP

TAP-TAP…….TAP-TAP…..TAP

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tends

she tends THINGS

she cares for things

like seed for the finches

juice for the hummingbirds

suet for those who will eat it

food for the cat

cleaning his toilet

when he’s done

she tends the plants around the house

planting new ones

pruning the old ones

watering both

she manages the inside

like an artist

with almost seasonal scenery

and finally

she cares for me

so i can sit

at the gates of the city

proud

she can sit content

that the many things

she has been given

she has handled well

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SOLILOQUIES REVISITED ALT

AS OFTEN AS YOU EAT THIS BREAD

AND DRINK THIS CUP

YOU PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DEATH

UNTIL HE COMES IN GLORY

(1 Corinthians 11:26)

AND THEY KNEW HIM

IN THE BREAKING

OF THE BREAD

(Luke 24:35)

WE PREACH CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED

(1 Corinthians 1:23)

IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF COMMUNION THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION ARE TO BE SPOKEN OR SUNG DISTINCTLY AND CLEARLY BEFORE THE CONGREGATION AND ARE UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE OMITTED

(The Book of Concord 584)

I’M BACK ON THE MEDICINES

THAT KEEP ME AWAKE

SO AS USUAL

I PUZZLE OVER THINGS

THAT PUZZLE ME

I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO

OR ANYWHERE TO GO

IF AN ILLITERATE

HINDU PEASANT

WHO UNDERSTOOD NO ENGLISH

WERE TO ATTEND OUR SERVICE

WHAT WOULD HIS IMPRESSIONS BE

COMMUNION AND COLLECTION

BECAUSE THERE IS MOVEMENT

SIGN OF PEACE

SAME THING

BUT THE SERMON

AND THE OTHER WORDS OF THE SERVICE

WOULD BE SO MUCH BLAH

BLAH

BLAH

EVEN THE CONSECRATION

WOULDN’T STAND OUT

WHEN I WAS IN MAINE

DUE TO CLERGY SHORTAGE

I WAS ALLOWED TO PRESIDE AT EUCHARIST

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO SAY THE WORDS OF CONSECRATION

I FELT MOVED TO SAY THEM

AS CHRIST MUST HAVE SAID THEM THE FIRST TIME

NOW I KNOW I CAN BE A BIT OF A DRAMA QUEEN

KING

WHATEVER

BUT I FEEL THE WORDS OF THE CONSECRATION

SHOULD BE READ WITH AWE AT THE ACTION

BREAD AND WINE HAVE BECOME

THE LORD’S BODY AND BLOOD

TRANSUBSTANTIATION

CONSUBSTANTIATION

EXPLAIN IT AS YOU WILL

BREAD AND WINE HAVE BECOME

THE LORD’S BODY AND BLOOD

IN THE MIDDLE AGES

WHEN THE LAITY

WERE SEPARATED FROM THE ALTAR

A BELL WAS RUNG

TO ANNOUNCE THE MIRACLE

SOMETHING IMPORTANT WAS HAPPENING

PERHAPS WE NEED THE BELL AGAIN

WE PREACH CHRIST

AND HIM CRUCIFIED

THEN WHERE IS THE CORPUS

ON THE CROSS

THE LACK OF IT

SMACKS OF CHEAP GRACE

WE SHOULD SEE THE HORROR

THAT OUR SINS HAVE WROUGHT

AND SO BE MOVED TO REPENTANCE

AND AMENDMENT OF OUR LIVES

WHY IS IT

WHEN A SERVICE

MUST BE SHORTENED

IT’S COMMUNION WHICH GOES

OF THE TWO

WORD AND SACRAMENT

I THINK SACRAMENT IS MORE IMPORTANT

THE WORD IS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD

WITNESS THE MULTIPLICITY OF CHRISTIAN SECTS

THE SACRAMENT

HAS POWER IN ITSELF

TO AFFECT CHANGE

WHEREAS THE WORD

MUST BE ALLOWED IN

WHEN WE EAT THIS BREAD

AND DRINK THIS CUP

WE PROCLAIM HIS DEATH UNTIL HE COMES IN GLORY

I DON’T THINK

SUCH A TREMENDOUS THING

SHOULD BE LIMITED TO SUNDAY

WHERE THERE IS A CONGREGATION

I THINK EUCHARIST

SHOULD

AND CAN BE CELEBRATED

SO MUCH FOR THE NIGHT’S WORRY

MORE THAN WATCHMEN WAIT FOR THE DAWN

I WAIT FOR SLEEP TO OVERTAKE ME

AS I PRAY

BE NEAR ME LORD JESUS

I ASK YOU TO STAY

CLOSE BY ME FOREVER

GUARD ME I PRAY

BLESS ALL THE DEAR CHILDREN

IN YOUR TENDER CARE

TAKE US TO HEAVEN

TO BE WITH YOU THERE

AMEN

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BERT

BERT SHE CALLS ME

MY CAT I MEAN SHE CALLS ME BERT

MY ORANGE FURRED TABBY

MY CHANGEABLE ORANGE FURRED TABBY

WHEN I WANT TO HOLD HER SHE'S RELUCTANT

BUT OPEN MY MUSIC BAG SHE'S IN IT

OPEN MY DESK DRAWER SHE HAS TO CHECK IT OUT

GO SHOELESS SHEtS BITING MY TOE

TAKE A NAP SHE SITS ON MY HEAD AND CALLS ME BERT

DUMB CAT

ONLY REASON I KEEP HER IS BECAUSE I LIKE HER

I LIKE TO HEAR HER MOTOR RUN WHEN SHE'S CONTENT

I LIKE THE LOOK IN HER EYES

WHEN SHE'S SITTING IN THE WINDOW WAITING TO COME IN

I CALL HER TABBY

THE KIDS CALL HER PUSSYFOOT

WE COULD CALL HER ESMERELDA SHE DOESN'T COME ANYWAY

BUT IF I RATTLE A FOOD BOX SHE CALLS ME BERT

NOW SHE'S REGAL POISED AND COOL

NOW SHE'S TRYING TO CATCH HER TAIL

NOW SHE THINKS MY BEARD'S A KITTEN

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN KISSED BY A ROUGH TONGUED CAT

DUMB CAT

SHE'S SLEEPING IN MY CHAIR

SHE'S DRINKING FROM THE FISH TANK

SHE'S FALLING IN THE BATHTUB

SHE'S SHARPENING HER CLAWS

SHE'S LOCKED IN A CLOSET

SHE'S STRANDED IN A TREE

SHE'S A BOTHER AND A NUISANCE

BUT SHE'S KIND OF CUTE TO ME

BESIDES

SHE CALLS ME BERT

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AN UPRIGHT WOMAN

SHE MUST HAVE BEEN QUITE A SINNER

OR HER PARENTS WERE

TO HAVE THE WEIGHT OF GUILT

TURN HER INTO A QUESTION MARK

HERE SHE COMES

GIVING THIS PLACE OF WORSHIP A BAD NAME

SINNERS DON’T BELONG IN CHURCH

RESPECTABLE PEOPLE DO

HERE COMES ANOTHER ONE

THIS ITINERANT PREACHER

DOES HE COME TO SEE ME

NO

BUT HANG OUT WITH RIFF-RAFF AND DREGS

HE SEES HER

IT’S LIKE A LOVE STORY

HE GOES TO HER

TALK TO HER

SHE LIFTS HER HEAD TO ANSWER HIM

HER HEAD KEEPS RISING

HER BACK UNBENDS

SACRILEGE I THE LEADER CRY

SACRILEGE

HE’S HEALED ON THE SABBATH

A WOMAN TO BOOT

SACRILEGE

JESUS ANSWERED

HOW MANY OF YOU WATERED YOUR STOCK TODAY

SILENCE

HOW MANY OF YOU FED YOUR STOCK TODAY

SILENCE

YOU WERE ALLOWED

BECAUSE ANIMALS SHOULD NOT SUFFER

HOW MUCH MORE THIS DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM

NOT SUFFER

THE POWERFUL

WHO HAD SERVANTS TO DO THE WORK

WERE HUMBLED

THE POOR AND THE POWERLESS

HID SMILES BEHIND THEIR HANDS

THE WOMAN ENJOYED THE VIEW

ERECT

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shadows

 

two flocks of birds

flew across the field

one in the sky

the other

their shadow

trailing behind

they flew

until they settled in a field

the shadows caught up

they were one

 

keep me lord

in the shadow of your wing

protect me

from the noon time devil

and the lion

 

like a cloud

give me shelter

from the sun

let my shadow

not go forward

or backward

but stay with me

 

take me lord

from the land of desert

 give me water

water that will slake my thirst

refresh my throat

be a cool stream

running down my face

 

renew with water

the face of my earth

and be thirsty no more

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T.I.A.

I’VE HAD A T.I.A.

WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS

IS LONG WORD GIBBERISH

FOR A MINI STROKE

IT HAPPENED IN THE SHOWER

WHEN THE WORLD WENT AWAY

AND I COULDN’T MOVE

I DROPPED THE SOAP

WHICH ALERTED

SHE WHO NEVER SLEEPS

TO COME LOOK

I SAID I DON’T FEEL SO WELL

WHICH BOTHERED ME

I FELT BEFORE I DIE

I SHOULD SAY SOMETHING

MEMORABLE

NOT

I DON’T FEEL SO WELL

WELL WE HAD THE PARAMEDICS

AND I RODE TO THE HOSPITAL

IN AN AMBULANCE

WITH THE SIREN SOUNDING

AND ME

TELLING JOKES TO THE ATTENDANTS

THEY PRODDED

AND PROBED

 CAT SCANNED

AND X-RAYED

TESTED BLOOD AND URINE

DREW THEMSELVES UP TO IMPERIAL HEIGHTS

AND DECLARED

WE THINK

IT WAS A T.I.A.

BROUGHT ON BY ALL THE OTHER

THINGS

THAT BUG YOU

SO THEY GAVE ME A NEW MEDICINE

TO GO WITH ALL THE OTHERS I HAVE

I TAKE SO MANY

I THINK THEY’RE M&MS

BUT WHAT REALLY BOTHERED ME

WAS HOW PROSAIC

MY LAST WORDS MIGHT HAVE BEEN

SO I’LL THINK I’LL SAY THEM NOW

BEFORE IT COMES ON ME

LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

AND I AM TOO BUSY

OR CONFUSED

FATHER

INTO YOUR HANDS

I COMMEND

MY SPIRIT

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SOME THOUGHTS

FRANCIS SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE INDIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD TODAY. PEOPLE DIE OF COLD IN THE STREETS BECAUSE OF THIS INDIFFERENCE: “IF IN SO MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOTHING TO EAT, THAT'S NOT NEWS, IT SEEMS NORMAL. IT CANNOT BE THIS WAY! YET THESE THINGS BECOME THE NORM: THAT SOME HOMELESS PEOPLE DIE OF COLD ON THE STREETS IS NOT NEWS. IN CONTRAST, A TEN POINT DROP ON THE STOCK MARKETS OF SOME CITIES IS A TRAGEDY.. A PERSON DYING IS NOT NEWS, BUT IF THE STOCK MARKETS DROP TEN POINTS IT IS A TRAGEDY! THUS PEOPLE ARE DISPOSED OF, AS IF THEY WERE TRASH. CONSUMERISM HAS LED US TO BECOME USED TO AN EXCESS AND DAILY WASTE OF FOOD, TO WHICH, AT TIMES, WE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO GIVE A JUST VALUE, WHICH GOES WELL BEYOND MERE ECONOMIC PARAMETERS,” (POPE FRANCIS)

ONE OF THE MOST PERSISTENT HERESIES ESPECIALLY IN MODERN TIMES IS THE SEPARATION OF FAITH FROM DAILY LIFE

IT INFECTS EVERYONE FROM CLERICS HIDING PEDERASTY, POLITICIANS WHO PUT BEING REELECTED OVER MORAL JUDGMENTS, DOWN TO YOU AND I

AN ECONOMIST HAS SAID IN RESPONSE TO THE POPE’S STATEMENT

THAT CAPITALISM CAN CURE POVERTY

I ASK IF THAT IS SO WHY DOES IT STILL EXIST

IS IT BECAUSE OF LACK OF WILL.

THOSE IN CHARGE ARE COMMITTED TO THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE.

ALL OF US ARE DESTINED TO ASK THE QUESTION

WHEN WERE YOU HUNGRY

NAKED OR POOR

CAN WE LIVE WITH THE ANSWER

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WATERFALL

WATERFALL

BY WATER BEGAN

THE SIFTING DOWN FOR EONS OF THE SILT

OF DYING CREATURES AND THE LAND

TRANSFORMED BY HEAT AND PRESSURE INTO STONE

BY UPHEAVAL THRUST TO MOUNTAIN FORM

THEN DOWN THE WATERS RAN

CUTTING THROUGH MOUNTAIN

THROUGH STONE

WILDLY THE WATERS RUN

TO DROP OFF A CLIFF AND PLUNGE INTO A POOL

TO PASS A BILLION YEARS OF STONE WITHIN ITS PLUNGE

RACING          RUNNING          SWIRLING           FROTHING

LIVING WATER           CUP OF STONE