Mary Karr is an Ignatian-influenced former atheist, recovering alcoholic, and one my favorite poets. I’ve written about her before. This poem is entitled “Who the Meek Are Not.” Not the bristle-bearded Igors bent under burlap sacks, not peasants knee-deep in the rice paddy muck, nor the serfs whose quarter-moon sickles make the wheat fall [...]
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At Mass last Sunday, Dennis Dillon, SJ, ended his homily with this poem by Alden Nowland. It’s titled “Great Things Have Happened.” We were talking about the great things that have happened in our lifetimes; and I said, “Oh, I suppose the moon landing was the greatest thing that has happened in my time.” [...]
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In March, my wife and I missed a connection because of congestion at O’Hare airport. We vowed never to fly through O’Hare again if we could avoid it. But after reading the poem “Transportation” by Kristen Lindquist, I might reconsider. Everyone in O’Hare is happy today. Sun shines benevolently onto glorious packaged snack foods and [...]
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I hadn’t known about the priest-poet John O’Donohue until I read this post by Michelle Francl-Donnay. The poem “A Blessing for One Who is Exhausted” might have been inspired by the Examen. Take refuge in your senses, open up To all the small miracles you rushed through. Become inclined to watch the way of rain [...]
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e.e. cummings’ poem “i thank You God for most this amazing day” is a lyric of thanksgiving. Read it here. Here it is read by Cummings himself. (Click here if you are getting this post by e-mail.)
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I love the narrow door— You know, the one at the school Where parents and children cram in At the beginning of the day at Saint Paul, Rushing to beat the bell. They are happy or tired or stressed, But always will smile and thank you For holding the door open So they can [...]
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Czeslaw Milosz (1911–2004), a Polish Catholic, wrote some of the greatest religious poetry of our time. This poem, called “Late Ripeness,” is one of my favorites. Not soon, as late as the approach of my ninetieth year, I felt a door opening in me and I entered the clarity of early morning. One after another [...]
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Daniel Berrigan, SJ, celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday. We older folk remember him as a charismatic anti-war activist in the 60s and 70s. He was a powerful advocate for non-violence and social justice for many years. He is also a poet of some renown. Here is one of his lyrics. Miracles Were I God almighty, [...]
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Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. –Mary Oliver Read the rest of this poem here.
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From the poem of that name by John Donne: Could I behold those hands, which span the poles And tune all spheres at once, pierced with those holes? Could I behold that endless height, which is Zenith to us and our antipodes, Humbled below us ? or that blood, which is The seat of all [...]
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