we are scattered pebbles and wild grains spilling
we are wayward leaves and crushed jasmine leis
you lift our hands to warmth, with light that shines
the brightest of all, the sun, we spread our wings to fly
to you, smothering us in your motherly embrace
to you, forgiving our ills, transgressions & doubts
we are broken trees & cracked mirrors of ourselves
we are forgotten children & cast-offs of the citystreets
yet you raise our faces to the sky, not even rainclouds
can eclipse your heart of gold, humble yet so holy, we
cannot imagine the terror of your absence,
not even for a day, we strive to hear your words
in prayerful songs, we offer our misfortunes to you
open our hearts so we may be gatherer of seeds,
dancing to flutes and drums of devotions
peacefully sitting in our lotus pose, our faces flowing
with gratitude, despite our lables: outcast, leper, poor
with you, we find our wellspring of faith
in silence, suffering with us in our nothingness
in darkness, comforting us until our dying breath
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics: Exploring the genre of Panegyric Poetry, hosted by Sanaa Rizvi.
A tribute to Mother Teresa and her kind of service and charity.
Oh my heart this is absolutely stunning, Grace! I especially love; "in prayerful songs, we offer our misfortunes to you/open our hearts so we may be gatherer of seeds,".. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt. 💝💝
ReplyDeleteWonderful. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💜love
What a stunning prayer, Grace.
ReplyDelete“we offer our misfortunes to you/
open our hearts so we may be gatherer of seeds,
dancing to flutes and drums of devotions
peacefully sitting in our lotus pose, our faces flowing ...”
I love the idea of planting and dancing while meditating—using the mind to the fullest.
At first I thought this poem was to Mother Earth and it would work perfectly that way too. Such beautiful imagery, such a glorious poem, Grace. Really fine work.
ReplyDeleteI was so thrilled that it was a tribute to Mother Teresa ❤️
ReplyDelete'we are broken trees & cracked mirrors of ourselves
we are forgotten children & cast-offs of the citystreets'
Wow. Dare I say that your Grace is infused in every word of this poem?
ReplyDelete-David [ben Alexander]
This is a stunning tribute to a saint, but also works as a prayer to the all-knowing, whatever that means to you, and as a concession to faith, to good works, to the helping hand. A beaufiful paean to the godhead potential in each of us.
ReplyDeleteFitting praise for one who has so much power over us while sustaining us.
ReplyDeleteI thought mother Earth as well first, but so fitting to have a real hero... I wonder who can be rewarded by the Nobel Peace Prize...
ReplyDeleteThis was quite lovely, I enjoyed it very much.
ReplyDeleteSuch a loving tribute, she is a saint in all eyes ... such a reassuring read!
ReplyDeleteGrace, your poetry never fails to satisfy my soul ... on so many levels. This is lovely.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought the persona was addressing the sun, but now I see how that parallel works as Mother Teresa continues to send out the light of her example. Brilliant use of metaphors, Grace, to direct us to "find our wellspring of faith," identifying ourselves with the leper and the outcast. Well done.
ReplyDeletepax,
dora
Grace, do you know I sat next to her in a train travelling to Calcutta! Such an unassuming person. That was before smartphones/selfie days.
ReplyDeleteYou have captured her essence so beautifully.
What a gorgeous tribute to the "wellspring of our faith" Whomever or whatever we deem our higher power. A wonderful treasure of a poem to be read again and again!
ReplyDelete