Poetry

Plotting The Downfall

                             Bruce R Nov 2020

Different places- different strangeness:

People get used to what they know,

Pursuing prejudices energetically,

Blinded to the truth behind their belief.

They conspired together,

plotted his downfall,

cared not whether

truth was his all.

They contrived most slyly

to set him a trap;

“we’ll just ask him blithely

where he sets his cap.”

They sidled up to him

bobbing and twisting;

“we’ll trick him in sin, or

on Rome’s side listing.”

You, they proclaimed,

are honest and straight;

you cannot be blamed,

no master you rate.

“Tell us wise teacher

should we pay the tax?”

(for the taxes are hated

but needs must Rome’s Pax).

But he saw them coming

knew how their hearts felt,

heard their faux murmuring,

the deal he’d be dealt.

“You hypocrites all

setting for me a trap;

show me the tax haul

you keep in your wrap.”

“Whose is this face

on the coin you have shown me?”

He’d outrun their race,

so they soon wished to flee.

“Give them their coin back

you’ll not miss the lack,

but don’t short-change God,

that’s not the right tack.

They think that they own you,

nought could be less true;

there is only one God,

nought else but You.

    Matthew 22:15-21, Isaiah 45:6

Living In the Kingdom

                             Bruce R Oct 2020

Kingdom of God:

At once transcendent and immanent

Life is lived, therefore,

in a partial state of Kingdomhood

Eternally saved, we

still claw out of the ooze of original sin.

Within Kingdom time:

the poor inherit

those who mourn are comforted

the meek are boundlessly wealthy

justice is sated, mercy simply IS

pure is our vision of God

peaceful the children play

the persecuted inherit with the poor;

with God, the best of humanity prevails.

Without Kingdom time:

poverty is ever poorer

mourning is desolate despair

the meek are mashed in the maw

injustice sated, everywhere oppression

mercy buried under selfish greed

purity blinded

war and strife gnaw at life

persecution is vengeful and triumphant;

absent God, humanity’s worst prevails.

Inside the Kingdom we find:

respect for life, respect for women, support for the poor and vulnerable.

Outside the Kingdom we find:

selfishness, deception, prejudice, hatred, racism and abuse.

Do I stand inside or outside in relationships private discourse the public square business dealings entertainment,

in that place

where love

cannot survive, or

in that place

where love

strives and flourishes.

Lockdown

                             Brother Richard OFMCap

Yes there is fear. 

Yes there is isolation. 

Yes there is panic buying. 

Yes there is sickness. 

Yes there is even death. 

But, 

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise 

You can hear the birds again. 

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet 

The sky is no longer thick with fumes 

But blue and grey and clear. 

They say that in the streets of Assisi 

People are singing to each other 

across the empty squares, 

keeping their windows open 

so that those who are alone 

may hear the sounds of family around them. 

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland 

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. 

Today a young woman I know 

is busy spreading fliers with her number 

through the neighbourhood 

So that the elders may have someone to call on. 

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples 

are preparing to welcome 

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary 

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting 

All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way 

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality 

To how big we really are. 

To how little control we really have. 

To what really matters. 

To Love. 

So we pray and we remember that 

Yes there is fear. 

But there does not have to be hate. 

Yes there is isolation. 

But there does not have to be loneliness. 

Yes there is panic buying. 

But there does not have to be meanness. 

Yes there is sickness. 

But there does not have to be disease of the soul 

Yes there is even death. 

But there can always be a rebirth of love. 

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. 

Today, breathe. 

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic 

The birds are singing again 

The sky is clearing, 

Spring is coming, 

And we are always encompassed by Love. 

Open the windows of your soul 

And though you may not be able 

to touch across the empty square, 

Sing

You are Always With Me

                             Bruce R Sep 2020

If I always lived in awareness of

the truth that you are always with me:

Would I start the day winter-weighted, or 

generously inhale the opportunity like a summer day?

Be intolerant of others, or

generously respond with love and patience?

Harshly judge other’s intentions, or

generously forgive any slight or hurt I have suffered?

Cheat in business or at play, or

generously act fairly and justly in all things and towards all?

Lie to protect my selfish interests, or

generously act with integrity and seek truth on every occasion?

Be indifferent to the pain of others, or 

generously support all who are distressed or vulnerable?

Ignore the truth of your presence, or

Let go and allow myself to rest in the generosity of your saving love?

Waiting for Rain

                             Bruce R Aug 2020

Waiting for love desired

Waiting to be dream inspired

Waiting to ken why the pain

Waiting for rain

Waiting for the mystery within

Sacred Unity already inhering

In listening, an awareness rearing

Unexpected, even uninvited

Silent breath, whispered.

 

Broken and Healed into Strength

                             Bruce R Jul 2020

I am broken in my humanity

You are broken despite your divinity. 

 

I am broken in my weakness 

broken in my bleakness. 

You are broken by your giftedness

broken by your selflessness. 

 

I am broken in my sinfulness

broken in my wilfulness. 

You are broken by your goodness

broken by your loveliness. 

 

I have not the strength to rise up

You have the strength to raise me up. 

I have not the strength to be free

you invite me up upon your tree. 

 

You heal me of my weakness

you wash away my bleakness. 

You welcome my companionship 

you accept me within your authorship. 

 

My human suffering is blended 

with your human suffering, never-ended.

I am stronger than before

can it be that God is stronger more?

 

The together-healing explodes upon us

pulse of light bursts outwards from us. 

Humanity reclaimed, restored, recharged 

in Divinity’s forgiving and loving, enlarged.

 

Cosmos realigned, nature renewed

history remastered by, with and in you.