Loves and Fishes (Mark 6:38, Matthew 14:17, Matthew 15:34, John 6:9, Luke 9:13)

WHAT IS SO LITTLE

JUDGED AGAINST SO MANY

SIX MONTH'S WAGES

AND A DAY'S WALK

WOULD ONLY GIVE EACH A LITTLE

SEND THEM AWAY

LAUGHING AT HIS INNOCENCE

ANDREW SAID

THERE IS A BOY HERE

WITH FIVE LOAVES

TWO FISHES TOO

WHAT SHALL WE DO

MAKE THE PEOPLE SIT DOWN

AND TAKING LITTLE

HE MADE MUCH

HE MADE MUCH TO OVERFLOWING

YOU FEED THEM ALL WITH A GENEROUS HAND

THE PSALMIST SINGS

SO SHALL THE LACK

THE LITTLE THAT IS ME

BE MADE TO FILL

THE THINGS ORDAINED

BY YOU

FOR ME TO DO

FRANK A VOLLMER

Dives (Luke 16:19-31)

LET US SING A DIRGE ABOUT DIVES

WHO SUPPED AT A BANQUET TABLE

WHILE UNDERNEATH SAT LAZARUS

WAITING FOR CRUMBS

FROM BREAD

DIVES USED

TO CLEAN HIS GREASY HANDS

FOOD FOR THE DOGS

WHO LICKED HIS SORES

HE FELT GRATEFUL FOR THE CRUMBS

DIVES DIVES

WHY ARE YOU THERE

IN HELL

WHAT DID YOU DO WRONG

NOTHING

THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE

BECAUSE LAZARUS WAS INVISIBLE TO ME

I NEVER BEAT HIM

OR CHASED HIM FROM MY TABLE

HE WAS INVISIBLE TO ME

FRANK A VOLLMER

Naming the Hours (Psalm 113)

MATINS

TODAY WE HAVE THE NAMING OF HOURS

AS OUR DAY BEGINS

WITH THE NURSE WAKING US

TO TAKE OUR TEMPERATURE

AND OUR PULSE

WE HAVE GREETED THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

ALL AROUND I HEAR

SORRY TO WAKE YOU

A LITTLE HIGH THIS MORNING

A LITTLE LOW

TAKE THIS MAGIC PILL

TO MAKE IT RIGHT

AND WE BEGIN THE DAY

BY TRYING TO GO BACK TO SLEEP

BUT NOT BEFORE I THINK OR SAY

LET THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED, BOTH NOW AND FOREVERMORE. FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN

TO THE PLACE WHERE IT SETS, THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED.

LAUDS

NOW IT BEGINS

THE WAKE UP CALL WITH BREAKFAST

AND THE MAGIC PILLS AGAIN

AND TEMPERATURE

AND PULSE

BRIGHT WITH PROMISE

WE BEGIN OUR DAY

O LORD, OPEN MY LIPS, AND MY MOUTH WILL DECLARE YOUR PRAISE

IN THE MORNING, O LORD, YOU HEAR MY VOICE; IN THE MORNING I LAY MY REQUESTS BEFORE YOU AND WAIT IN EXPECTATION

SATISFY US IN THE MORNING

WITH YOUR UNFAILING LOVE,

THAT WE MAY SING FOR JOY

AND BE GLAD

ALL OUR DAYS

THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH

AND MY SHIELD;

MY HEART TRUSTS IN HIM,

AND I AM HELPED.

MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY

AND I WILL GIVE THANKS TO HIM IN SONG

PRIME

WE ARE ASKED TO BEGIN THE DAY’S WORK

WHETHER RESTING OR HEALING

TESTING OR EATING

SLEEPING OR STARING AT THE WALL

BUT FIRST WE WASH

OR OTHERS WASH US

CLEANSE ME WITH HYSSOP,

AND I WILL BE CLEAN; WASH ME,

AND I WILL BE WHITER

THAN SNOW

TERCE

COFFEE BREAK TIME

NO ONE HAS EVER CALLED IT THAT

A MID MORNING RECOLLECTION

OF WHO WE ARE

THE LORD WILL SUSTAIN HIM

ON HIS SICKBED

AND RESTORE HIM

FROM HIS BED

OF ILLNESS

RESTORE TO ME

THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION

AND GRANT ME

A WILLING SPIRIT

TO SUSTAIN

SEXT

WE GIVE THANKS FOR OUR FOOD

AND ITS DIETARY RESTRICTIONS

NO SUGAR ADDED

OR NO SALT

BUT THE PORTION LOOKS INCREDIBLY SMALL

BE ALERT

FOR YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL

PROWLS AROUND

LIKE A ROARING LION

LOOKING FOR SOMEONE

TO DEVOUR

HE GIVES FOOD

TO EVERY CREATURE

HIS LOVE ENDURES

FOREVER

HE RAINED DOWN MANNA

FOR THE PEOPLE TO EAT HE GAVE THEM

THE GRAIN OF HEAVEN MEN ATE THE BREAD OF ANGELS

HE SENT THEM

ALL

THE FOOD

THEY COULD EAT

NONE

TEMPERATURE AND PULSE TIME AGAIN

THE GATHERING OF THE ENDS OF THE DAY

MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR SUPPER

PERHAPS A NAP

A QUIET RESTFUL TIME

A TIME TO SAY

BUT I HAVE STILLED

AND QUIETED MY SOUL

LIKE A WEANED CHILD

WITH ITS MOTHER

LIKE A WEANED CHILD

IS MY SOUL WITHIN ME

YOUR SUN WILL NEVER SET AGAIN

AND YOUR MOON

WILL WANE NO MORE

THE LORD

WILL BE YOUR EVERLASTING LIGHT

AND YOUR DAYS OF SORROW WILL END

VESPERS

WE HAVE WASHED OUR FACE FOR EVENING

WE’VE HAD OUR TEMPERATURE AND PULSE TAKEN

A FINAL ROUND OF PILLS

A CERTAIN SENSE OF SADNESS

AT THE END OF THE DAY

A CERTAIN SENSE OF FRIGHT

AT THE COMING OF THE NIGHT

A CERTAIN SENSE

OF BEING HELD IN GOD’S HAND

O LORD

I CALL UPON YOU;

HASTEN TO ME GIVE EAR TO MY VOICE

WHEN I CALL TO YOULET MY PRAYER RISE UP

LIKE INCENSE BEFORE YOU, THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS

AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE!SET A GUARD, O LORD

OVER MY MOUTH KEEP WATCH

OVER THE DOOR OF MY LIPS

THE LORD

WILL SUSTAIN HIM

ON HIS SICKBED

AND RESTORE HIM

FROM HIS BED

OF ILLNESS

COMPLINE

IT’S TIME FOR GOING TO BED

THE LORD GRANT US A PEACEFUL

PAIN FREE NIGHT

AND LET US WAKE UP SINGING

I WILL BOTH LIE DOWN

AND SLEEP

FOR YOU ALONE

O LORD

MAKE ME DWELL

IN SAFETY

KEEP US O LORD

AS THE APPLE OF THINE EYE

PROTECT US

UNDER THE SHADOW

OF YOUR WINGS

THE LORD BE WITH US

AND ALL OUR ABSENT

BROTHERS AND SISTERS

AMEN SO BE IT AMEN

FRANK A VOLLMER

Sarah ((Genesis 23:1-20))

 

WHEN ABRAHAM BURIED SARAH

HE TOLD HIS SERVANTS

CLOSE THE TOMB GENTLY

FOR WITH IT

YOU CUT OFF

PART OF MY HEART

I REMEMBER MOST OF ALL

HER LAUGH

IT CHEERED ME

WHEN THE PROMISES OF GOD SEEMED HOPELESS

HER LAUGH

WAS A YOUNG GIRL’S LAUGH

NO MATTER HOW OLD SHE BECAME

LIKE LAUGHING AT ANGELS

WHOSE NEWS WERE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

GOD CALLED HER PRINCESS

AND SHE WAS

OF MY HEART

AND HER FAMILY

ROLL THE STONE GENTLY ON HER TOMB

AND LET ME ALONE

TO MOURN HER

AS NIGHT FALLS

FRANK A VOLLMER

Labyrinth (Isaiah 55:6-7)

IT’S LIKE FOLLOWING GOD’S WILL

ONE COULD GET TO THE GOAL FASTER

BY STEPPING OVER THE LINES

BUT THEN

THE JOURNEY

WOULD HAVE NO MEANING

THE JOURNEY IS PART OF THE QUEST

THE JOURNEY

IS FOLLOWING

THE WILL OF THE CREATOR

THERE’S LETTING GO

AND LETTING GOD

REACHING THE CENTER

AND KNOWING YOU ARE HOME

FRANK A VOLLMER

Trees of Promise (Isaiah 2, 11, 42; 59:20 )

WE ARE LIKE TREES IN GOD’S EYES

WITH ONE EYE HE SEES US

IN SPRINGTIME FINERY

FLOWERED

AND LEAFED

AND MOVING

TO THE WIND OF THE SPIRIT

WITH THE OTHER EYE

HE SEES US AS WINTER TREES

LIMBS BROKEN

BATTERED BARK

ROOTS EXPOSED

MAYBE SOME TRUNK ROT

SETTING IN

AND HE LOVES US

NOT FOR WHAT WE ARE

BUT WHAT WE CAN BECOME

AND IF AT THE END

OR ANYTIME

WE ARE LIKE THE GOOD THIEF

WHO CRIES

BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER

I HAVE NOT BOURNE FRUIT

NOR PROVIDED SHADE

NOR GIVEN SHELTER TO BIRDS

HE

SEEING OUR SUMMER TREE

OF PROMISE

SAYS

WELCOME HOME

FRANK A VOLLMER

VT (thoughts on the holocaust)

KYRIE ELEISON

CHRISTE ELEISON

KYRIE ELEISON

LORD HAVE MERCY

WHY

SAYS THE YOUNGER CHILD

ARE THESE DEATHS

DIFFERENT

FROM ANY OTHER DEATHS

WHY DO THESE DEATHS

HAVE MONUMENTS

WHEN SO MANY

HAVE NO MONUMENT

AT ALL

IF WE MOURN ONE

SHOULD WE NOT MOURN ALL

SHOULD NOT EVERYMAN’S DEATH

BE UNIQUE

WHAT MADNESS

TAKES AWAY

THE LIFE OF ONE

WHAT MADNESS

TAKES AWAY

THE LIFE OF MANY

ARE MADNESS

AND EVIL

THE SAME THING

WHERE ARE TEARS

WHEN THOUSAND DIE

ARE CHILDREN BORN

TO BE LED TO SLAUGHTER

BECAUSE OF MEN’S FOLLY

IT IS NEVER EASY

WHEN PARENTS

BURY CHILDREN

ESPECIALLY

WHEN THEY ASK

FOR WHAT PURPOSE

WAS MY DEATH

AND THE ANSWER

IS LIKE DRY LEAVES

GATHERING

AND STILL

FRANK A VOLLMER

The Potter (Isaiah 64:8)

THE POTTER LOOKED AT THE WORK OF HIS HANDS

AND LOVED HIS CREATION

I SHALL CALL YOU

BELOVED OF MY HEART

SPOUSE …PARENT... FRIEND

YOU SHALL HOLD ALL THAT IS PRECIOUS TO ME

AND WHEN AS TIME WILL

THE VESSEL BREAKS

I SHALL CLAIM THE CONTENTS

AS MY OWN

EVEN THAT

WHICH YOU GAVE AWAY

AS SPOUSE …PARENT... FRIEND

INVESTING THE TALENTS I FILLED YOU WITH

AND YOU USED

HONORING MY NAME

FRANK A VOLLMER

Syro-Phoenician (Mark 7:25-30/Matthew 15:21-28)

WHEN THE WOMAN APPROACHED JESUS

HER FACE SET LIKE FLINT

EXPECTING SCORN

SHE WAS SYRO-PHOENICIAN

AND FEMALE

ONE WAS LOW

THE OTHER LOWER

BUT NEED FORCED HER TO SAY

HEAL MY DAUGHTER

HE ANSWERED

AS SHE EXPECTED

IT IS NOT RIGHT

TO TAKE THE BREAD OF ANGELS

AND FEED IT TO DOGS

UNDETERRED

SHE SPARRED WITH HIM

EVEN DOGS ARE FED FROM THE TABLE

HIS EYES SOFTENED

HIS WHOLE MANNER CHANGED

HE'D BEEN BESTED IN AN ARGUMENT

GO

YOUR DAUGHTER IS HEALED

FRANK A VOLLMER

Infinity (Psalm 8)

THE SYMBOL FOR INFINITY

IS A FIGURE EIGHT

LAID ON IT SIDE

IT’S CALLED

A LEMNISCATE

A RIBBON

ANOTHER SYMBOL IS A SNAKE

SWALLOWING ITS TAIL

IT’S CALLED

AN UROBORUS

A CIRCLE

THEN GOD SAID BEGIN

WHERE ON THE CIRCLE

THE RIBBON

CAN YOU SAY THE SPOT

MAYBE GOD DIDN'T SPEAK IT

PERHAPS HE THOUGHT IT

Or BLINKED

OR SCRATCHED HIS HEAD

I WASN'T THERE

BUT I WAS AT MY OWN CONCEPTION

WHEN HE SAID BEGIN

AND MY UNIVERSE EXPLODED

WHEN I CONSIDER THE HEAVENS, THE WORK OF YOUR FINGERS

THE MOON AND THE STARS, WHICH YOU HAVE SET IN PLACE

WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, THE SON OF MAN THAT YOU CARE FOR HIM

THE UNIVERSE IS STILL EXPANDING

SOMEDAY GRAVITY WILL TAKE OVER

IT WILL ALL COLLAPSE

AND BE DONE

TIME WILL HAVE ENDED

A MERE BLIP ON THE RIBBON

AND ALL OF US

WILL HAVE BEEN GATHERED

INTO GOD’S BOSOM

AND INFINITI

WILL ROLL ON

FOREVER

FRANK A VOLLMER

Pie Jesu (from the latin requiem)

PIE JESU

PIE JESU

GRANT THEM REST LORD

GENTLE JESUS

GRANT THEM REST LORD

UNDISTURBED

PIE JESU

GENTLE JESUS

GRANT REST TO CHILDREN

DEAD BEFORE THEY WERE BORN

TO VICTIMS OF WAR

TO VICTIMS OF HATE

TO VICTIMS OF PROFIT

AT ANY COST

GRANT THEM REST

GENTLE JESUS

GRANT THEM REST

GRANT THEM REST

AND PROMINENCE

WHO OFTEN WERE IGNORED IN LIFE

OR WORSE INVISIBLE

OH SWEET JESUS

WHO TAKES AWAY

THE SINS OF THE WORLD

TAKE AWAY THE EFFECTS OF SIN

AS IT AFFECTS THEM

GRANT THEM REST

LORD JESUS

WHOSE LIFE

WAS A DISCORDANT SONG

GRANT THEM REST

GRANT THEM PEACE

FOREVERMORE

FRANK A VOLLMER

Sad Song (Matthew 6:9-15)

I WILL NOT SING A SAD SONG

PERHAPS A WHISTLE BY THE GRAVEYARD SONG

A DEFIANT IN YOUR FACE SONG

A FRIGHTENED SONG

I HOPE NOT A DUMB SONG

CLOUDED BY PAIN

MEDICINE

OR MIND

BUT I WILL NOT SING A SAD SONG

I’VE BEEN SICK AGAIN

LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

IT CAUGHT ME UNAWARES

BUT I WILL NOT SING A SAD SONG

MY LITTLE MALADY

COMPARED TO THE WORLD’S PAIN

I DO NOT FIND THAT SUFFERING IS ENNOBLING

SO MUCH OF IT IS UNDESERVED

I DO NOT THINK THAT GOD SENDS PAIN

SO MUCH IS HUMAN CAUSED

GOD ASKS US TO BRING HIS KINGDOM HERE

A POETIC GESTURE

OR DID HE MEAN IT

AND IF HE MEANT IT

ARE WE NOT TASKED TO ELIMINATE PAIN

AT TREBLINKA

THEY USED GEESE

TO MASK THE SOUND OF SUFFERING

HAVE WE GONE MUCH FURTHER THAN THAT

TO MAKE THE WORLD

THE WAY GOD WANTS IT

FRANK A VOLLMER

Proverbs (Proverbs 31:11-31)

I HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH PROVERBS

THEIR DESCRIPTION OF A GOOD WIFE

I LOOKS LIKE A LIST FOR HIRING HELP

I THINK IT SMACKS OF WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS

MY WIFE LOVES ME

AND I LOVE HER

AND FROM THAT FLOWS GOOD

LIKE GRACE FREELY GIVEN

LIKE DEEDS FREELY DONE

THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD

AS AGE WITHERS AND BEAUTY FADES

THERE STILL IS HEARD

THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE

AND I AM A BLESSED MAN

FRANK A VOLLMER

Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:25-26)

Ezekiel 20:25-26

I GAVE THEM OVER TO WORTHLESS DECREES AND REGULATIONS THAT WOULD NOT LEAD TO LIFE. I LET THEM POLLUTE THEMSELVES WITH THE VERY GIFTS I HAD GIVEN THEM, AND I ALLOWED THEM TO GIVE THEIR FIRSTBORN CHILDREN AS OFFERINGS TO THEIR GODS—SO I MIGHT DEVASTATE THEM AND REMIND THEM THAT I ALONE AM THE LORD.

IF I READ EZEKIEL RIGHT

GOD GAVE MAN BAD LAWS

WHICH LED MEN TO SACRIFICE

THEIR FIRST CHILD

WHO SPOKE FOR THE CHILD

1 SAMUEL 15:3

NOW GO, ATTACK THE AMALEKITES AND TOTALLY DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT BELONGS TO THEM. DO NOT SPARE THEM; PUT TO DEATH MEN AND WOMEN, CHILDREN AND INFANTS, CATTLE AND SHEEP, CAMELS AND DONKEYS.

IF IT IS WRONG FOR NAZIS TO ERADICATE A RACE

WHY IS IT RIGHT FOR THE ISRAELITES

WHO SPOKE FOR THE AMALEKITES

GENESIS 22:2

THEN GOD SAID, "TAKE YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON, ISAAC,

WHOM YOU LOVE, AND GO TO THE REGION OF MORIAH.

SACRIFICE HIM THERE AS A BURNT OFFERING

ON ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT."

SHOULD A FATHER EVER KILL HIS SON

WHEN THE SON IS JUSTIFIED

WHO SPOKE FOR ISAAC

NOW I HAVE THREE

I WOULD LIKE FOUR

GENESIS 4:5

BUT ON CAIN AND HIS OFFERING

HE DID NOT LOOK WITH FAVOR.

SO CAIN WAS VERY ANGRY,

AND HIS FACE WAS DOWNCAST

I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE CAIN

BUT HE GAVE OF SOME OF THE FRUITS OF THE FIELD

WHILE ABEL GAVE THE BEST OF THE FLOCK

I CHOOSE THREE

THERE MAY BE MORE

PERHAPS THESE WORDS WERE MEANT TO BE RESISTED

PERHAPS THEY WERE A TEST

NOT OF OBEDIENCE

BUT LIVING THE LAW

SHOULD ABRAHAM HAVE SAID

KILLING IS WRONG

SHOULD THE SOLDIERS HAVE SAID

KILLING IS WRONG

SHOULD THE FATHERS HAVE SAID

KILLING IS WRONG

ARE WE CALLED TO BE GOD’S CONSCIENCE

HOW ABOUT JOB’S CHILDREN

NOW I HAVE FOUR

WHO SPOKE FOR THEM

HEAVY THOUGHTS

FOR SOMEONE NEAR HEAVEN’S GATE

I DON'T THINK GOD WILL MIND

MY ASKING

WHY

FRANK A VOLLMER

Brooding (Genesis)

AND THE SPIRIT BROODED OVER THE WATERS

LIKE A MOTHER HEN GIVING BIRTH TO A CHICK

SHE WOULD NOT LEAVE TILL IT WAS DONE

A SENTINEL

ALWAYS STANDING GUARD

THOSE WHO FEAR THE LAST COMING

WHO ANTICIPATE IT EVERY DAY

WHO QUAKE AT EVERY FALSE BUGLE CALL

DO LITTLE HONOR TO GOD

WHY WOULD ANYONE

LOVE A GOD

WHO HATES US

WHO DOES NOT REMEMBER

THE BROODING GOD

WHO WOULD SHELTER US

UNDER HIS WINGS

FRANK A VOLLMER

A Story (Matthew 8:18-22)

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY

LET ME SPIN A RHAPSODY

OF DISPARATE ELEMENTS

SOME TRUE

SOME FABLE

A STORY

TO ONE MAN

WHO WANTED TO FOLLOW HIM

HE SAID

I HAVE NO WHERE TO EVEN LAY MY HEAD

TO ANOTHER

WHO WANTED TO BURY HIS FATHER

HE SAID

LET THE DEAD

BURY THE DEAD

TO ANOTHER

WHO WANTED TO SAY GOODBYE TO HIS FATHER

HE SAID

ONE WHO FOLLOWS ME

NEVER LOOKS BACK

HARSH WORDS

I WONDER WHY

LET ME NOW SPIN A TALE

WHEN JOSEPH DIED

JESUS COULD NOT COME TO THE FUNERAL

BECAUSE HE WAS JUDGED

BY HIS FAMILY

TO BE A MEMZER

A BASTARD

AND BASTARDS

WERE NOT ALLOWED

TO ATTEND

FUNERALS

HE WAS CALLED MARY’S SON

NOT JOSEPH’S

IN HIS SACRIFICE FOR US

HE STRIPED HIMSELF POOR

LOWLY BIRTH

QUESTIONABLE PARENTAGE

SHUNNED BY HIS LARGER FAMILY

TOLERATED

BECAUSE

MARY WAS HIS MOTHER

HE COULDN'T IDENTIFY

WITH PEOPLE

AND FAMILY TIES

HE'D GIVEN UP HIS OWN

HE’D EVEN TRIED TO PUT DISTANCE

BETWEEN HIM AND HIS MOTHER

AND BROTHERS

SAYING

WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME IS MOTHER

AND BROTHER

BUT HIS MOTHER WOULDN'T GO AWAY

AND WAS FAITHFUL

TO THE END

WHEN HE TRIED ONCE AGAIN

UNSUCCESSFULLY

TO GIVE HER AWAY

MOTHER BEHOLD YOUR SON

SON BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER

HANGING ON THE CROSS

BEREFT OF ALL HE HELD DEAR

CRYING TO THE FATHER

OUT OF LONELINESS

WHY HAVE YOU LEFT ME

IN LIGHT OF ALL HE HAD GIVEN AWAY

HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND

HOLDING BACK

FRANK A VOLLMER

On Closing a Ghetto Church (Isaiah 58)

FATHER FORGIVE US FOR BEING POOR

FOR BEING GHETTO TRAPPED

BY BIRTH OR RACE OR AGE

OR FEAR OF COMPETITION

FOR WHICH WE ARE ILL PREPARED

FORGIVE US FOR OUR ANGER

FOR LASHING OUT

AT INNUMERABLE GNATS OF IRRITATION

THE ACID OF OUR DAILY LIVES

FORGIVE US FOR BELIEVING YOUR WORDS

THAT THE POOR

WOULD HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM

FORGIVE US FOR NOT MAKING MONEY

LIKE OTHER MISSIONS IN AFRICA

INDIA LATIN AMERICA

DO

FOR PENANCE

TAKE OUR CHURCH

AND WITH THE GAIN

ERECT A MONUMENT TO PRIDE

IN A MORE PROFITABLE PLACE

FATHER FORGIVE US FOR BEING POOR

Frank a. Vollmer

Old Woman ( based on Apocrapha (Liber Requiei Mariae (The Book of Mary's Repose))

 

In the Eastern Church, the death of Mary, Jesus' mothers is traditionally celebrated on august 15. The feast is called the dormition or falling asleep of Mary.

OLD WOMAN

HOW WARM THE SUN SHE THOUGHT

NODDING NAPPING IN HER CHAIR

KNITTING UNATTENDED IN HER LAP

HOW WARM THE SUN

THE CHILDREN ALL HAD GONE

LAUGHING AND LEAPING

THE COOKIES ALL EATEN

BYE BYE AUNTIE

THEY ALL CALLED HER AUNTIE

AWAY THEY WENT LEAPING

EXCEPT ONE LITTLE URCHIN

WITH KNEE OUT IN TROUSER

AND NOSE ON SLEEVE WIPING

HAD LINGERED BEHIND

SHYLY

FOOT DRAGGING

HEAD DOWN

FACE BLUSHING

HE SLOWLY APPROACHED HER

AWKWARDLY KISSED HER

BELLOWED I LOVE YOU

SCURRIED AWAY

HEART ACHING SHE REACHED OUT

HER ARMS GRASPING NOTHING

SO QUICKLY HE RAN

OH JOSEPH OH JESUS HOW MUCH DO I MISS YOU

HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN GONE

THE OLD WOMAN SAT NODDING

HER HEART WOUNDS REOPENED

SAT NODDING

AND NAPPING

AND YEARNING FOR HOME

SAT NODDING THEN SLEEPING

THEN GOD CALLED HER HOME

FRANK A VOLLMER