to love the dim light, the flowers,
and place a nickel in the plate, when the nickel is all I have.
We hang on our crosses,
hang around after death,
hang our hopes on a rose stem that bends and vanishes.
Here is a rose.
Here is a coin.
Here I am, tiny in this vast space.
I would go to Mass, if you would come with me.
If you would whisper to me that's it's all true,
and does not die--
the dogs I've had,
the women I've loved,
and the men, too.
"Peace be with you."
"And also with you."
I think,
peace is overrated;
give me a dream about a nun's kiss
and a sacred heart that stays, like a nickel in a rose bower.
_____
139 words (so sue me) for Magaly's "Dearest Book, I Wrote You A Poem."
The book I wrote for is Robert Girardi's novel "Madeleine's Ghost."
Image at top: Maud Feely, 1910.
Your closing imagery is particularly weighted (beyond a nickel) and memorable - a beautiful plaintiveness about the entire poem. Beautiful pic as well. k.
ReplyDeleteShay--
ReplyDeleteThis poem is one of my favorites. However, I say that often about your writing.
With the universe of books so wide, more likely than not the reader won't have read the book the poet takes up in this challenge. So the book-love poem stands wholly on its own. The love of this book is clear, "as a sacred heart that stays, like a nickel in a rose bower." Peace is overrated; much better the best-turned sentence.
ReplyDeleteFor me the second three lines are the most poignant; how we yearn and how we remember, even when life itself seems gone, when there's only emptiness. This is a beautiful post-love poem, Shay. We all have our own sacraments, and our nickels, however much more a heart that stays really costs.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Joy... Those last lines do something to the blood and soul, they leave the mind with thoughts that are all flesh and spirit and human want.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, I'm adding the book to my list...
ReplyDeleteThis poem is truly EXCELLENT! Moving. Concise. wonderful. Nourishing. Mahalo
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous poem, my friend. It speaks to my heart and herstory.
ReplyDeleteThis is so incredibly beautiful!💖 Especially love; ""Peace be with you." "And also with you." I think, peace is overrated; give me a dream about a nun's kiss and a sacred heart that stays, like a nickel in a rose bower." Beautifully executed!💖
ReplyDeleteI like the blasphemy woven into this piece. I think I need to read this book.
ReplyDeleteWhat a truly lovely poem. So full of the sacred (heart) and the nickels we have all put into offering plates - the widow's mite who gave all she had - If you would whisper to me that's it's all true,
ReplyDeleteand does not die--
the dogs I've had,
the women I've loved,
and the men, too.
I love this stanza. And the cats and the birds I've rescued and my mother who recently die. Indeed, this stanza cause me to weep.
This is so comforting. I have had similar feelings.
ReplyDeleteAn intriguing evocation of the book (which I had not heard of before).
ReplyDeleteI was thankfully not brought up Christian, but my Catholic cousins did take me to midnight mass one xmas eve, and I adored the pageantry.
I was mostly spared the burden of Lutheran upbringing, I saw enough what it would do in my father who wasn't.
ReplyDeleteMy not knowing the book has allowed the poem to shine on its own and now I want to read it - it's written in my notebook!
ReplyDeleteI particularly love the lines:
'We hang on our crosses,
hang around after death,
hang our hopes on a rose stem that bends and vanishes'.
Aaaah, you have the fire in your blood, you want to hear your racing heart, feel the shiver on your skin, who can blame you *grin*
ReplyDeleteA soulful write. Well done
ReplyDeleteMuch 😍 love...
Excellent tribute! I love, in particular, these lines:
ReplyDelete''We hang on our crosses,
hang around after death,
hang our hopes on a rose stem that bends and vanishes'.
'"Peace be with you."
"And also with you."
I think,
peace is overrated;
give me a dream about a nun's kiss
and a sacred heart that stays, like a nickel in a rose bower.'
This was haunting. Will search the book soon. Thanks.
ReplyDelete