THEOTOKOS (Luke 1:46-55)

SINCE PARENTHOOD BEGAN

MOTHER AND CHILD ARE INSEPARABLE

SINE QUA NON

MARY WAS GIVEN THE TITLE THEOTOKOS

WHICH MEANS GOD BEARER

HER MAGNIFICAT PREDICTS

THAT ALL GENERATIONS SHALL CALL ME BLESSED

WE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK

WOULD DO WELL TO PAY HEED

THE CHILD THAT MARY BORE IN HER WOMB

HAD TWO NATURES

HUMAN AND DIVINE

A FACT IF WE BELIEVE IN THE INCARNATION

MANY WOULD RELEGATE MARY TO OBSCURITY

EXCEPT FOR THE SINGING OF AVE MARIA

FEW KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORDS

OR ITS RELEVANCE

BUT AS GOD AT THE BEGINNING SAID BEGIN

CREATION CAME INTO BEING

MARY SAID FIAT

AND GOD-MAN BECAME FLESH IN MARY’S WOMB

SHE IS THE MODEL FOR ALL OF US

TRUSTING IN GOD

AND HIS WORD

EVEN WHEN THE FUTURE LOOKS DARK

HOLD ONTO HIS WORD

WE LIKE MARY

ARE IN GREAT TRAVAIL

FOR GOD WILL BE BORN INTO THE WORLD

THROUGH US

GOD WAITS OUR FIAT

FRANK A VOLLMER

PIGTAIL (Luke 2:4)

WITH ONE EAR

AND THE OTHER ONE DOWN

A TAIL THAT CURLED

LIKE A PIG

HE WASN’T A PROMISING ARTICLE

NE MATTER WHAT THE DONKEY MERCHANT SAID

HE KEPT IT TO BUILD UP SALES ON THE OTHER MULES

AT WHICH HE WAS MOST ADEPT

SO WHEN THE CARPENTER CAME

NEEDING A RIDE

HE COULDN’T AFFORD THE BEST

NOR THE MEDIOCRE

BUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL WAS PIGTAIL

NOW HE WASN’T A BAD MAN

BUT A BUSINESSMAN

A SALE WAS A SALE

RATHER A RENT WAS A RENT

HE ONLY NEEDED IT

TO GO TO BETHLEHEM FOR CENSUS

HIS WIFE WAS PREGNANT

THE ROMANS DIDN’T CARE

IF SHE MISCARRIED

ONE LEST JEW TO MAKE TROUBLE

WHEN THE TRIP WAS OVER

THE MULE MERCHANT

NOTICED A CHANGE IN PIGTAIL

PHYSICALLY HE WAS THE SAME

BUT HE CARRIED HIMSELF

WITH AN AIR OF WORTH

AND CONFIDENCE

THAT CHILDREN RESPONDED TO

HE BECAME THE VILLAGE TOY

MAKING MANY A CHILD

FEEL LIKE A KING

RIDING HIM

STRUTTING PROUDLY

BAYING LOUDLY

BUT HIS FAVORITE

WAS THE CARPENTER’S SON

WHO GAVE HIM THE NAME PIGTAIL

HE WORE IT WITH DIGNITY

AND LOVE

FRANK A VOLLMER

CHILDREN (Matthew 18:6) (Mark 9:42)

HERE

WHEN SOMETHING IS BAD FOR CHILDREN

WE SHIELD THEM

LEST THEIR YOUNG MINDS BE HURT

BUT IF A HUNGRY CHILD

IS SHOWN ON TV

WE LET IT RUN

SHOULD WE NOT CARE FOR THAT CHILD TOO

WHEN I WAS A CHILD

WE WERE SENT TO BED WITHOUT SUPPER

FOR ANY FORM OF DISOBEDIENCE

WHAT FORM OF DISOBEDIENCE

DID THIS HUNGRY CHILD DO

TO BE BORN POOR

TO BECOME POOR

TO BE RACIALLY DIFFERENT

TO SING PRAISES

TO A FOREIGN GOD

TO BE UNECONOMICALLY FRUITFUL

TO BE PAWNS IN A POWER GAME

WHATEVER THE REASON

WHAT CHILD

SHOULD BE DENIED

A WARM BED

A FULL BELLY

A LIFETIME OF PROMISE

AND OPPORTUNITY

IT IS WELL TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN

BUT ALL ARE OUR CHILDREN

WE WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT

 

AS CHRIST SAID

IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THEM

TO BE THROWN INTO THE SEA

WITH A MILLSTONE

TIED AROUND THEIR NECK

THAN TO CAUSE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES

TO STUMBLE

FRANK A VOLLMER



THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE (2 Samuel 11:1)

IN SPRING

WHEN KINGS GO OFF TO WAR

SO MANY THINGS IN LIFE

ARE CYCLIC

TIDE

SEASONS

PLANTING

HARVESTS

THE BIG ONE

FROM BIRTH TO DEATH

WHICH WE ALL MUST SHARE

AND GIVES MEANING TO ADVENT

THE YEARLY CYCLE

OF THE LIFE OF THE CORN KING

THE WHEAT KING

THE FISH KING

THE LIFE KING

THE CIRCUMFERENCE

OF THE WHEEL OF LIFE

IS VARIABLE

SOME

SO SMALL

AS TO BE A SPECK

OTHERS

HUGE

OLD

AND CREAKING

GRIND UNGRACEFULLY

TO A HALT

WE ARE GUILTY

OF WAITING MESSIAH

AS IF HE WERE A MAGICIAN

WHO WILL HEAL ALL OUR WOUNDS

NO EFFORT

ON OUR PART

BUT A WAVE OF A HAND

WHICH LEAVES US IN DARKNESS

LOOKING FOR LIGHT

BUT THE LIGHT IS IN US

WE WON’T LET IT SHINE

WE’D RATHER SIT IN DARKNESS

ASKING HIM TO COME

WHEN HE’S ALREADY HERE

FRANK A VOLLMER

SNOW (Matthew 27:46)

THE SMELL OF JEW WAS IN THE AIR

AND FLAKES LIKE SNOW CAME FALLING DOWN

CRISP PIECES OF FLESH

LIKE SNOW FELL DOWN

THE SLAVES KEPT FILLING THE OVENS

WITH AN UNENDING SUPPLY OF BODIES

NO EMOTION ALLOWED

IF THE NEXT ONE WAS KNOWN

PARENT

CHILD

FRIEND

SPOUSE

LIKE A LIFELESS MACHINE

THEY HAD TO KEEP ON WORKING

DEATH WAS A HARRASED GATHERER

AS SHOWER HEADS DID THEIR WORK

THE CHILDREN ASKED THEIR PARENT WHY

THE PARENT STRUGGLED TO REPLY

BUT FOUND NO WORDS ADEQUATE

TO EXPLAIN

WHY THE CHILD WOULD NEVER FIND SOMEONE

AND PLAN A FUTURE

BUT WITH CHRIST

IN WHOM THEY DO NOT BELIEVE

CRY OUT

WHY

FRANK A VOLLMER

FATHER’S BUSINESS (Luke 2:49)

DID YOU NOT KNOW

I WAS ABOUT MY FATHER’S

BUSINESS

THIS FROM A TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY

EXPLAINING WHY HE WANDERED OFF

A COMMON PROBLEM

AN UNCOMMON EXCUSE

THAT HAS PUZZLED SCHOLARS

SINCE IT WAS WRITTEN DOWN

IT PUZZLED HIS MOTHER

WHO KEPT THE MEMORY OF THIS

IN HER HEART

ALONG WITH THE WORDS

OF ANNA

AND SIMEON

BUSY WITH MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

A SENSE OF URGENCY

AT AN EARLY AGE

BUT HE WAS TWELVE

HE HAD PARENTS

HE HAD TO LIVE AS A MAN

THE PEAKS AND VALLEYS

OF ORDINARY EXISTENCE

HE HAD TO LEARN

TO LAUGH

AND CRY

TO OBEY

COMMAND

LEARN A TRADE

LEARN HIS FAITH

LIVE HIS FAITH

BE BUSY

AS A SON

MAKING HIS PARENTS PROUD

AND WE

ARE WE MAKING OUR PARENTS PROUD

AND OUR FATHER

FRANK A VOLLMER

BODY-BLOOD (1 Corinthians 10:16)

1 Corinthians 10:16

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

IS NOT THE CUP WE SHARE

A MAKING OF US ONE

IS NOT THE BREAD WE SHARE

A MAKING OF US ONE

ONE WITH CHRIST

AS FOOD BECOMES

ONE WITH OUR BODIES

HOW CAN THERE BE DISSENSION

IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

BUT THERE ARE THINGS

WE MUST DO

IN THAT BODY

WHICH WE DO NOT WANT TO DO

THERE ARE THOSE

WE MUST LOVE

IN THAT BODY

WHICH WE ARE UNWILLING TO DO

CAN WE SAY

I ONLY WANT A PERCENTAGE OF CHRIST

IN ME

OR RATHER

I ONLY WANT A PERCENTAGE OF ME

IN CHRIST

I WANT HIM AS A SPECIAL ASSISTANT

BUT NO MORE

I DON’T WANT THE NIGGLING THOUGHT

DO BETTER

FOR WHICH HE IS FAMOUS

I ONLY WANT HIM

WHEN I’VE FOULED MY NEST SO HORRIBLY

I NEED OUTSIDE HELP

IT’S THEN I KNOW

WHAT IT MEANS

TO BE POOR IN SPIRIT

AS THE HARVEST OF THE WHEAT

AND THE WINE ARE CYCLICAL

SO CHRIST COMES CONTINUALLY

SAYING

THIS IS MY BODY

THIS IS MY BLOOD

TAKE AND EAT

AND BE ONE

FRANK A VOLLMER

A MAN SHOULD BE WILLING

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” –Greek proverb

 A MAN SHOULD BE WILLING

TO PLANT A TREE

UNDER WHO’S SHADE

HE WILL NOT SIT

A TRIBUTE

TO THE FUTURE

A SIGN OF HOPE

FROM THE PAST

A TREE

WHERE OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN

CAN CARVE THEIR LOVED ONE’S NAME

WE ARE TOLD

TO PLANT WHERE WE WILL NOT REAP

 TO REAP

WHERE WE HAVE NOT SOWN

TO BE THE DOER

NOT NECESSARILY

THE ACHIEVER

TO PLANT A TREE

WHERE OTHER’S CHILDREN

CAN HANG A SWING

AND PRACTICE GOING HIGHER

FRANK A VOLLMER

WANDERING THOUGHTS

ONE OF THE LASTING IMPRESSIONS I HAVE

OF THE HOLOCAUST

IS A SHORT FILM

OF A YOUNG BOY

SITTING ON A TABLE

SHAKING

SHIVERING

HE WAS BEING SUBJECTED

TO REPEATED BLOWS

ON THE HEAD

TO STUDY THEIR EFFECTS

HE WAS A JEW

A NON-PERSON

USELESS AS A STONE

THROWN IN A LAKE

RINDS OF MELON

THROWN IN THE GARBAGE

TOOLS TO BE USED

TILL THEY BREAK

THEN DISCARDED

IT WOULD BE NICE TO THINK

THAT IT HAPPENED

IN ANOTHER PLACE

IN ANOTHER TIME

BUT IT’S HAPPENING NOW

AND HAS HAPPENED NOW

WHILE DIVES DINES

LAZARUS DIES

LIKE A PIECE OF PAPER

A TOY OF THE WIND

PLAYED WITH

THEN FORGOTTEN

WHEN WILL YOU COME

LORD JESUS

WHEN WILL YOU COME

TO RESCUE US FROM OURSELVES

TO GIVE DIGNITY TO DIRT

WATER TO DRY LAND

VISION TO THE BLIND

DREAMS TO THE DUNG HEAP

AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF OTHERS

AND A HELPING HAND

FRANK A VOLLMER



LISTEN BUT DO NOT HEAR

You give bread to a hungry person; but it would be better were no one hungry, and you could give it to no one. You clothe the naked person. Would that all were clothed and this necessity did not exist. (Tractate 1 John 8,8) Augustine of Hippo

WHEN PAUL CAME TO JERUSALEM

FOR WHAT WOULD BE KNOWN

AS THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM

OR

THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL

PAUL CAME TO PRESENT HIS CREDENTIALS

THE RIGHT TO PREACH TO THE GENTILES

WITHOUT INFLICTING JEWISH CUSTOMS ON THEM

PAUL PREACHED WELL

PAUL COULD PREACH THE SPOTS OFF A DALMATIAN

WHEN ALL THE INTELLECTUAL DUST HAD SETTLED

THE APOSTLES HAD ONLY ONE MANDATE TO GIVE HIM

REMEMBER THE POOR

REMEMBER THE POOR

RINGS LIKE A REFRAIN

DOWN THE CENTURIES

MOSTLY IGNORED

MOSTLY FEEDING THE HUNGRY

WITHOUT ASKING WHY

CHRIST KNOWING

THAT WE ARE OFTEN

UNAWARE OF THE WORLD AROUND US

SAID

YOU HAVE THE POOR ALWAYS WITH YOU

IT’S A REBUKE TO THE BLIND

AND THE DEAF AMONG US

IT’S A REBUKE TOO ALL OF US

WHO FEAST AT DIVES TABLE

AND NOT SEE LAZARUS

WHO WALK BY THE WOUNDED MAN

ON THE ROAD TO JERICHO

AFRAID TO BE CONTAMINATED

CHRIST WHISPERS

FEW HEAR

WHATSOEVER YOU DO….

FRANK A VOLLMER

FOXES HAVE HOLES

THE BIRDS HAVE NESTS

THE FOXES HAVE DENS

BUT THE SON OF MAN

HAS NO PLACE

TO LAY HIS HEAD

STOP LAUGHING LORD

YOU’VE GIVEN ME

SOME MANY PLACES TO LAY MY HEAD

I’VE FORGOTTEN HOW MANY

EACH TIME SAYING

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE LAST TIME I’M MOVING

I’M LEAVING THIS PLACE IN A BOX

NEVER SAY NEVER TO GOD

NEVER SAY NEVER

TO THE HAND THAT LEADS YOU

NEVER SAY NEVER

YOU’LL NEVER WIN

BUT LET US PRAY

FOR THOSE

WHO UNWILLINGLY

FOLLOW CHRIST’S EXAMPLE

FOR SOLDIERS

SPENDING THE NIGHT

ON THE BATTLEFIELD

FOR THE HOMELESS VETERAN

WHOSE SEEN TOO MUCH OF LIFE

IN TOO SHORT A TIME

FOR THE SLUM DWELLER

BESIDE RICH ESTATES

FOR THE WORKER

WHOSE WAGES

ARE DEBASED

SO THAT HE WORKS

FOR SUBSISTENCE

FOR THE LOWLY PRIEST OR MINISTER

STRUGGLING WITH THE IMAGE

OF A CHURCH THAT FAVORS THE RICH

OVER THE NEEDY

THAT FAVORS

PROTECTION OF THE INSTITUTION

OVER THE NEEDS OF THE FAITHFUL

FOR THE CHILD

WHOSE BREAKFAST IS AIR

LUNCH IS SOMEONE’S THROWAWAY FOOD

FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN CARS

WHILE FINANCIAL MANIPULATORS

RIDE IN CADILLACS

FOR ALL OF THESE

LET US PRAY

FOR THOSE WE MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN

LET US PRAY

FOR MY NEW NEST AND DEN

THANK YOU

FRANK A VOLLMER

CUP AND PLATE

WHEN WE BECAME SICK

WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN

MY MOTHER

BEING A PART TIME WITCH

HAD A TREASURE TROVE

OF FOLK MEDICINE TO CURE US

SUCH AS

THE JUICE OF ONIONS AND SUGAR

CURED EVERYTHING

HONEY FOR ANY WOUND

MUSTARD PLASTER FOR COLDS

CASTOR OIL AND ROOT BEER MIX

FOR GENERAL MALAISE

BUT THE COUP GE GRACE

FOR ANY SICKNESS

WAS WHEN MUM BROUGHT YOU

TEA IN A YELLOW CUP

TOAST ON A BLUE PLATE

BEFORE WHICH

RASH DISAPPEARED

FEVER ABATED

IF IT FAILED

THE DOCTOR WAS SUMMONED

FUNERAL PLANS WERE MADE

AS AN ADULT

WHEN MY WORLD

GETS TWISTED

UPSIDE DOWN

I MISS THE CUP AND PLATE

THE HEALING IT BROUGHT

FRANK A VOLLMER

HATE YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER?

CHRIST WAS NOT A MODERN CARPENTER

SKILLED IN THE USE OF AUTOMATED TOOLS

BUT A JEWISH JACK OF ALL TRADES

WHO SPECIALIZED IN WOOD

CHRIST WAS NOT A CONTEMPORARY

ENGLISH SPEAKING WORKMAN

BUT A FIRST CENTURY SEMITE

WHO THOUGHT SEMITIC

WHO EXPRESS HIMSELF SEMITIC

SO WHEN MOST ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

OF LUKE 14:26

HAVE CHRIST SAY

UNLESS YOU HATE YOUR MOTHER

AND FATHER

YOU CANNOT FOLLOW ME

WHAT IMAGES OF STERNNESS FOLLOW

BUT A BETTER TRANSLATION

EXPRESSED IN JEWISH THOUGHT

IS THAT HATE EQUALS

LOVE LESS

GOD CREATED THE WORLD

ALL THAT’S IN IT

SAID

THAT’S GOOD

WHAT IMAGE OF GOD

PROMPTS US TO TRANSLATE THAT WORD

AS HATE

THE JEW PRAISES GOD FOR EXISTING

FOR FILLING ALL THE LONELY PLACES

IN HIS LIFE

HOW COULD HE HATE WHAT GOD HAS MADE

WHEN HE HIMSELF SAID

HONOR YOUR MOTHER

AND FATHER

IN A SIMILAR SITUATION

ABOUT FOODS

GOD SAYS

DO NOT CALL ANYTHING IMPURE

THAT GOD HAS MADE CLEAN

WE ARE ALL GOD’S CREATION

BORN CLEAN

WE STRIVE TO LEARN TO LOVE

FIRST OURSELVES

THEN THOSE CLOSEST TO US

OUR MOTHER AND FATHER

OUR SIBLINGS

THE REST OF THE FAMILY

THE PERSONS WE MEET

WHO HAVE CHRIST WITHIN

NOWHERE IS HATE PERMITTED

EVEN TO OUR MOST VIOLENT ENEMY

A HARD SAYING

BUT NO HARDER

THAN WHAT WE WERE WILLING TO BELIEVE

HATE YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER

FRANK A VOLLMER

MOSQUE

WHEN I WAS A YOUNG

CATHOLIC

SEMINARIAN

THE MISSIONARIES

IN THE SOUTH

WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE

CHURCH LAND

UNDER ALIASES

THE SOUTHERNERS

DIDN’T WANT

CATHOLIC CHURCHES

IN THE NORTH

IT WAS NO BETTER

I COULDN’T JOIN A BOY SCOUT TROOP

BECAUSE IT WAS IN A PROTESTANT CHURCH

IF THERE WAS ANY INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

IT WAS USUALLY DONE WITH SNARES

ONE WOULD HOPE

THAT AFTER WAR AFTER WAR

TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY

WE’D ACT OUT OF OUR BELIEFS

OR WAS THERE SACRIFICE FUTILE

THEY SAY

YOU CAN’T BUILD CHURCHES OVER THERE

THAT’S TRUE

BUT THIS IS AMERICA

RELIGION IS FREE

TO BE OBSERVED

OR IGNORED

BUT NOT PROHIBITED

HERE

IF WE SAY THIS IS A CHRISTIAN NATION

WHERE IS OUR CHRISTIAN ACTION

IF WE ACT LIKE OUR ENEMIES

WHY ARE WE ANY BETTER

AS A CHRISTIAN NATION

WE HAVE NO DARK AGES

BUT MANY DARK PAGES

OUR NATION

SHOULD BE SEEN

AS ACTING ON OUR BELIEFS

NOT AS A NATION

THAT EXUDES HATE

FOR THE STRANGER

FRANK A VOLLMER

TOIL

From the Book of Common Prayer

O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life

we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep,

and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each

other's toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I AM REMINDED OF A WOMAN

ON A RETREAT

WHO SAID

I’M GOING AWAY FOR A WHOLE YEAR

TO DISCOVER MYSELF

BESIDE HER

WAS A WOMEN

A MOTHER OF THREE SMALL CHILDREN

WHO WAS THANKFUL

FOR THE FREE TIME ALONE

I’M REMINDED

THAT OFTEN THE MARYS

NEED A MARTHA

TO SUSTAIN THEM

I WAS IN A RESTAURANT

ENJOYING MY SABBATH REST

WAITED ON BY A LATINO

PROBABLY UNDERPAID

MAYBE TWO JOBS

HER SPIRITUAL LIFE

WAS PROBABLY

JESUS

HELP ME MAKE IT THOUGH THE DAY

THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

FOR MOST OF US

IS NOT NEAT AND PRETTY

BUT CATCH

AS CATCH CAN

JESUS REMEMBER ME

WHEN I CANNOT REMEMBER YOU

HELP US LORD

TO REMEMBER

OUR TOIL

HAS WORTH

AND DIGNITY

WE ARE THE NECESSARY LEAVEN

WITHOUT WHICH NOTHING

WE ARE THE BASKET OF FOOD

LIFTED TO THE TOWER

WHERE THE MONK PRAYS

FOR US ALL

FRANK A VOLLMER

Golden Girl

GIRL OF MY GOLDEN YEARS

THANK YOU

THANK YOU FOR GENTLING ME

FOR STAYING BY ME WHEN I WAS LOST

WHEN SOMEONE CHANGED

THE CITY’S NAMES AND STREETS

AND NIGHTMARES WERE COMMON

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HUMOROUS THINGS YOU DO

WHICH MAKES LIFE WITH YOU QUITE AN ADVENTURE

AND YOUR NAIVETY AT TIMES

LIKE WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE REDOING THEIR HOUSE

HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING NEW IN YOUR BEDROOM LATELY

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME AS I TRY TO FIND THE QUICKEST SHORTCUT FROM A TO B

AND USUALLY GETTING LOST

A SKILL YOU USED WELL IN PULLING ME OUT OF DARKNESS

THANK YOU GOLDEN GIRL

YOU ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF PAUL’S DISCOURSE ON LOVE

FOR YOUR GENTLENESS I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL

FRANK A VOLLMER

Basket Tree

BY THEIR FRUIT YOU SHALL KNOW THEM

THEN WHAT DOES THIS TREE PORTEND

COVERED WITH BASKETS

PUT OUT TO DRY

WHAT ODD FRUIT

EACH ONE HAND MADE

EACH ONE DIFFERENT

EACH ONE WITH A TOUCH OF IMPERFECTION

YET EACH ONE BEAUTIFUL IN ITS OWN WAY

FROM PRIMITIVE TO ARTIST'S WORK

LIKE PEOPLE

SO WHAT SHALL WE PUT IN THEM

BUT ALL OUR DREAMS

AND ALL OUR STRIVING TO BECOME

THE QUALITY THE ANGEL WHISPERED IN OUR EAR AT BIRTH

BE JOYOUS HAPPY LOVING TRUTHFUL AND KIND

EVEN AT BIRTH WE KNEW THAT GOD WISHED US WELL

WHERE SHALL WE FIND A BASKET

BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD GOD'S LOVE

WE NEED A BIGGER TREE

FRANK A VOLLMER