Dogwood Tree

My neighbors dogwood tree bloomed the color of purity

As five neighbors stood outside between my house and the tree 

Watching somebody's home across the street burn

All if us in awe, sorrow, and fear

If it happened to their house, it could happen to ours

That vinyl siding house went up in flames like nobody's business

I looked at my cedar house, knowing if it burned, it would be a bonfire for the ages

I put that out of my mind and watched the firemen hook up the water main two steos from my yard

I'm the last of my neighbors to go inside partly in awe of the sight, but mostly in shame

That it was them and not me

Saint Barbara

 It was a tower he put her in

You know, the one on Green Street

In his determination, he declared with a beer in hand

"Ain't nobody gonna disrespect my baby

So up in her tower his daughtet sat pondering creation

When your view is that of a bird, the world looks different

You become above petty shit

Only the best pagan teachers cone to visit

But they that lived below didnt understand that her view was above and closer to God

Boredom sat in

Father sent suitors to her in the prospects of marriage

But they were all sent away

They did not come with water and a crucifix

Only a man of Christ could give her what she desired

Baptism

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