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Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Sunflower Seeds

Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Celebrating National Poetry Month

April is national poetry month. In honor of poetry, I’d like to share four short poems with you. I’ll say a word or two about a few of them. I suggest you read the poems slowly and even aloud.

The first poem is by St. John of the Cross, translated by Daniel Ladinsky:

What Is Grace?

“What is grace,” I asked God.

(Source: Oldiefan)

And He said,

“All that happens.”

Then He added, when I looked perplexed,

“Could not lovers

say that every moment in their Beloved’s arms

was grace?

Existence is my arms,

though I well understand how one can turn

away from

me

until the heart

has wisdom.”

All that happens is grace? Really? All? That bad news from the doctor? That cherished relationship that is falling apart? That disturbing headline? All is grace? It is, the poet seems to be saying, if we really believe that “existence is God’s arms.” Hmmm. What could that mean? Even bad and disturbing things can elicit trust and love… The poem says it is so hard for us to believe that all is grace, that God understands how we can turn away from Him… Until our “heart has wisdom.” There’s consolation in those words and much to ponder is these few lines…

 

This second poem is just for fun (or is it?)…by Judith Powell:

Petition

(Source: pixel2013)

God-man, enduring helplessness

on Adam’s tree,

help those whose daily cross is

enduring me!

 

And here’s one by the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore:

 

I slept and dreamt that life was joy.

I awoke and saw that life was service.

I acted and behold, service was joy.

 

Tagore says so much in so few words… This beautiful Hindu poet wrote many poems like this one that seem remarkably Christian. I guess we have to remember that we Christians don’t have a monopoly on love and joy and service, do we?…

 

(Source: Pexels)

And my final poem is one I really, really like… Maybe it’s because my own mother used to make her dumplings in a large wooden bowl… In fact, she had three wooden bowls. After her death, each “branch” of my family got one of those treasured, “holy” bowls… This poem is by Larry Schug.

Mixing Bowl

Her Red Wing crockery mixing bowl

was all I wanted

of my mother’s earthly possessions,

that magic place

where pies and cakes and cookies

enough to sate six boys

were conjured with a mixing

of sugar and cinnamon,

a swirling of milk and eggs,

sprinkles and spoonfuls and cupfuls

of flour and soda and salt.

Now that I do my own baking,

I treasure my mother’s mixing bowl

as a peaceful, sacred place,

a small clearing in a dark forest;

where I meet her again,

my fingers touch hers

as she guides my hands

through stirring and kneading.

When a recipe calls for water,

I add tears.

 

Yes, we meet our deceased loved ones in all kinds of places…especially in those things they used while on earth—a mixing bowl, a hoe, a table cloth, a lunch pail… When do you feel particularly close to a deceased loved one? The last two lines remind us that grief is a mysterious thing… we never “recover fully” when a loved one dies… Tears can well up unexpectedly at any time…

I hope you enjoyed celebrating National Poetry Month with me.  What did you think of these particular poems? Do you have another favorite poem that you would recommend to us?

In keeping with the joy of the Easter season, I’ve chosen the song “10,000 Reasons” by Matt Redman. The last time I used this song was over two years ago. It continues to be a favorite of mine.

 

Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share with us? I welcome them!

 

 

 

 

25 Responses

  1. Good morning, Sister Melannie. I agree with you; the Larry Schug poem is absolutely beautiful! The last line being particularly poignant. Yes, our loved ones die, but mysteriously our lives still mix with theirs!

    Happy poetry month!

    1. Yes, John, our deceased loved ones are close… and our “lives still mix with theirs.” A nice way to put it–especially considering the title of the poem… Thanks for sharing. Sr. Melannie

  2. Sr. Melannie:

    These poems filled my heart with joy, and my eyes with tears. I also love the poetry of Tagore. Each poem above is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

    Mary

  3. I loved the poems, especially “The Mixing Bowl”. I remember my mother when I pray her rosary. I remember my grandmother when I use her dishes and when I sit in the rocking chair she rocked me in.
    I was also moved by the poem on grace. There is much to journal on there. As always, thank you for your reflections. Happy poetry month!

    1. Dear Jean, What beautiful memories you have of your mother and grandmother! And I’m glad to hear you journal. That’s a beautiful way to get in touch with the most meaningful aspects of life. Thank you! Sr. Melannie

  4. Hi, Melannie!
    I have to say that I love the Tagore poem, because every week when I help at a local food pantry, I experience the joy of serving.
    I hope you find joy in your service as a prolific writer. I know that I find joy and inspiration from your writings and the occasional retreat.

  5. Hi Sister Melanie. I liked the second one. It gave me a little chuckle at first and then a moment of insight that those I feel I must endure could be feeling the same way about me!

  6. Loved all the poetry! But the “Mixing Bowl” hit home. My Mom had a yellow pyrex bowl that she mixed kolaches in. I can still see her and still smell the wonderful aromas of “kolache day”. And, yes, the poem brought tears to my eyes.

  7. I have a “hoop” saw for cutting smaller branches. I call it my “grandpa” saw because of all the times I saw him with the very same type of saw in his hands, outside working in the yard. It makes me smile when I use it.
    Love your poetry selections and how poetry can say so much in so few words. Especially about GRACE, which always strikes me as one of those concepts that is difficult to describe but you “know it when you see it”. Thank you for your weekly inspiration!

  8. Love the mixing bowl poem. Thank you for sharing thoughts with us. So often you put into words exactly how I feel. Easter Blessings!

  9. Blessed Easter, Sr. Melannie. Your desire to have your mother’s mixing bowl as a precious reminder of her reminded me that I cherish my mother’s mixing spoon in the same way. To see how her years of mixing ingredients has worn down the “labor” edge of the spoon speaks volumes to me.

    1. Dear Tom, Thank you for sharing the memory of your mother that you connect with her mixing spoon. And thank you for emailing a picture of it to me. I’m trying to transfer that picture to this website, but so far I haven’t been able to. I’ll ask a friend. Thank you for writing! Melannie

  10. I am not sure of the title, but this is the one and only poem I remember…not even sure of the title!

    He drew a circle that shut me out
    Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
    But love and I had the wit to win
    I drew a circle that took him in.

    I really enjoyed the short poems…thanks for sharing!!

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Meet Sr. Melannie

Hi and welcome to my blog! I’m Sister Melannie, a Sister of Notre Dame residing in Chardon, Ohio, USA. I’ve been very lucky! I was raised in a loving family on a small farm in northeast Ohio. I also entered the SNDs right after high school. Over the years, my ministries have included high school and college teaching, novice director, congregational leadership, spiritual direction, retreat facilitating, and writing. I hope you enjoy “Sunflower Seeds” and will consider subscribing below. I’d love to have you in our “sunflower community.” Thank you!

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