What a wonderful day I’ve had
A quiet morning
waking when I chose
to a still quiet room and world

 Brunch
made by Wendy
eggs, bacon, bread
coffee and tea

the quiet clean up time
with Wendy and I moving
softly around each other
in her small kitchen

afternoon with other friends
listening to music
in a kind of bar
a kind of blues, gospel,
zydeco, rock, whatever mix

back to Wendy’s for a quiet time
then with Wendy back 
to Sharon and Tom’s
for their delicious dinner

wine & salad
roast & horseradish
mashed potatoes & gravy
green beans & creamed corn
fruit & merinque
poetry on the table

an hour more
of relaxed conversation
then back to Wendy’s

A perfect day
with special friends
in a special place

under it all
lies the children
and adults
of Gaza

The uncertain
frightened
people of Israel

I would write
prayers for peace
if I felt worthy

Two ducks we saw them
Male and female
We saw them

Unperturbed
By the suddenly snowy river
Around them
Snow white
Ripples whisper
Waters shimmer

We walk past
They take no notice
Nonetheless
We give them thanks
With our appreciation

If you want peace in the world, be peace. Thich Nhat Hanh

I am become her Hamas
She, my Israel
How is it that we are family
To all others
Yet enemies to each other
Launching blame like bombs

Though it seem pure hubris
Blind, self-centered hubris
To abrogate to our petty fight
The horror of this new old war
Yet this is the only way
I can begin to grasp
The terrifying reality of grievances
That barricade love
And murder forgiveness

I cannot judge the world harshly
Without knowing myself
Part of the holocausts we create.

Does summer begrudge spring its newness?
Does autumn envy summer its brightness?
Does winter covet autumn’s crispness?
Does spring resent winter’s cold?

Ah, no -
Nature is not that foolish.

Summer knows
There is no brightness without new birth.
Autumn knows
There is no crispness with bright growth.
Winter knows
There is no cold without crisp color.
Spring knows
There is no rebirth without cold death.

Ah, yes
Only humans are so foolish

To begrudge the other
To envy the different
To covet the younger
To resent the strange

To divide life into seasons
And worth into measures

I live now.

I live now.
But I worry about the past and the future.

I live now,
But I worry. About the past and the future,
I can do nothing.

I live now.
But I worry. About the past and the future,
I can do nothing,
So I seek deep divine stillness to drown worry.

I live now.
But I worry about the past and the future.
I can do nothing,
So I seek deep divine stillness to drown worry,
And bless my life with the eternal now.

Generations call me
Mother of Sorrows

My son was betrayed,
Tortured -  murdered
On a criminal’s cross

Generations call me
Blessed among women
Believing God grew
In my womb

Generations come to me
Hail Mary, Holy Mary
Pray for us
Now
And at the hour of my death

Abraham
Ishmael
Isaac
Moses
Mohammed
Solomon
Jesus

Jesus
My son
My bright-eyed boy
Born in Bethlehem
A toddler in Egypt
Growing strong in Nazareth
Sneaking off to stay in Jerusalem
Baptized by his cousin
(who was holy but a little weird)
In the Jordan River
Making friends among the fisherman
Along the Sea of Galilee
Beloved of Mary Magdalene 
She with those far-seeing eyes

My son’s feet knew the dirt
Of only one place on earth

My son’s native love belonged
To only one place on earth

My son’s mustard seed
Was planted
In only one place on earth

My son, my husband, and I
Knew only one place on earth
As home

Truly,
I am 
Mother of Sorrows
Weeping
As battles rage
As slaughter abounds
As injustice breeds injustice 
As horrors breed horrors

In the land we love
My son, my husband and I

Behold, said God
My creation
I call it good

Beholden, said God
Not to me
But to each other

Be holding, said God
Your earth’s riches
Not for me
But for you

Hold, hold, Hold Hard, said God
Not to the beauty of the oil slick
But to old leaves that fall to their death
That trees may resurrect young leaves

Behold and be warned, said Gaia
My bounty cannot be wasted by some
Lest it be lost by all