Butterfly Emerging

 My cocoon is made up of sins

Venue sins sparkle and can almost be dusted away

But the mortal ones require force and will to remove them

Only a real Mariposa will fight to remove the heart of sin and emerge it's beauty

One Drop

At Mass, the priest sips from the chalice

Ever careful not to spill a drop

But how do you measure a drop?

It takes three drops of peppermint essential oil to soothe my headache

In America, there once existed the barbaric one drop rule

What would happen if one drop spilled from the chalice?

Some would simply wash the linens as if it were a wine stained blouse

Little Li at ten knelt down and took a small piece of the Eucharist like a dog in a country that has only a drop of Catholics

Little Li's faith is an ocean

Most of us only a drop

From heaven all Jesus has to do is shed one drop of His blood to heal the World

But why would Jesus shed his blood from heaven when he's already given it to us?

The salve is on the altar, but we have to believe

Death and the Old Woman

 I've grown tired in my old age

At one time, I could walk that two mile stretch like I was walking from my front porch to the garden

But now I rest every few steps

The work I've done all these years have twisted my bones

I dream of sleep and beg Jesus to awaken me with a kiss in the morning

Girl at Shrine

 It was during Lent, my soul began to itch

I used to watch old ladies in black kneel down before a shrine to pray

You see them weeping

Beating their chests with a rosary wrapped around their hands

I wonder what they pray for?

More years

Death

Forgiveness for a sin that happened so long ago nobody remembers except her and God

Once I saw a woman kneel and pray before a shrine that was nailed to a tre

Nothing unusual about that, except we all thought this woman was a witch, or crazy

She was praying for sanity, no dobut

I want my life to begin

I'm told these dry times are good, spiritual

Like walking with Jesus in the desert

Well, my legs hurt, I'm thirsty, and I'm not God

But I do know in my simple kitchen mind that all things- good things come from God

From my mother's garden, I make a garland and walk solemnly in the forest, kneel on hard ground and pray

No tears fell

No voices heard

Silence, only silence

I left the garland as an offering, hoping Mary would find it acceptable

The walk home was slow

Halfway through the forest, Jesus took my hand 

And together we walked home on a new path

Grey Beach

 God painted the world grey today

The ocean water is as still as bath water

Still and frightening

As if it reflects my soul after a vague confession and a vague absolution

Saint in the Making

 I'm Martha ignoring my daughter's theological questions

From the front seat, driving is a far better concern at the moment

"I shall be a nun."

Words that seem to come from the Holy Spirit

If I had $100, I would give $110 to the poor

"Where would the extra $10 come from?"

"You, or I don't know someone or maybe even Jesus will just give it to me."

New Job

 Are you nervous?

Do I look it?

No, but you hummed the whole way.

You'll get a good education here while I work.

Oh Robert, why would you do that? Now you're all wet. What am I going to say?

I'm sorry Mama

I need this job. Your father left us with nothing

I know you're sad.

Did you enhoy the bread and butter this morning? Charity. Charity.

Come hell if high water, I'm going to connect you to the right people.

So you can be better than the kids that hang out on the street.

I don't ming scrubbing toilets if it means my son can study with the rich kids. That filth is a small price to pay.