Painting by Sieger Koder
When Mary Oliver died recently, I retrieved her book Thirst (2007), which combines nature, grief, and finding faith through the Church which she discovered in the midst of her sorrow after losing her long-time partner. She does not appear to have a background in any religion which, I think, aids her childlike wonder combined with some adult maturity as she meanders her way. Below are some of the poems I like. I once heard that aligning our sufferings with those of Jesus can help to transform them. The last poem, in particular, reminds me of this. The poems are full of reality and compassion.
Eileen Gaughan
The Uses of Sorrow (sleep I dreamed this poem)
Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.
After her Death.
I am trying to find the lesson
for tomorrow. Matthew something.
Which lectionary?. I have not
forgotten the Way, but, a little,
the way to the Way. The trees keep whispering
peace, peace, and the birds in the shallows are full of the
bodies of small fish and are
content. They open their wings
so easily, and fly. So. It is still possible.
I open the book
which the strange, difficult, beautiful church
has given me. To Matthew. Anywhere.
The Vast Ocean Begins Just Outside
Our Church: The Eucharist.
Something has happened
to the bread
and the wine
They have been blessed.
What now?
The body leans forward
to receive the gift
from the priests hand,
then the chalice.
They are something else now
from what they were
before this began.
I want
to see Jesus,
maybe in the clouds
or on the shore,
just walking,
beautiful man
and clearly
someone else
besides.
On the hard days
I ask myself
if I ever will.
Also there are times
my body whispers to me
that I have
Some Links to Try
Have you seen Ronald Rolheiser’s blog? RonRolheiser.com
Marie O’Donovan sends this link on Lent and climate change: LivingLent.org
