(Wendy Cabell, May 13, 2021 [further edited Summer Solstice Eve 2022 (via Cate's Imagination and Justice workshopping group), and Ascension Thursday (Roman Catholic calendar 2023, also Our Lady of Skepe and the White Poplar)], feast day of Our Lady of Help/Succor and Our Lady of Fatima, of above Saint Julian of Norwich, Blessed Gemma (gem) of Goriano (her Tridium is May 11-13), Saint Merewenna (teacher of Saint Elfleda), Saint Rolende of Gerpinnes, Saint Glyceria (sweetness), and Saint Agnes of Poitiers. Image from here.)
Ever-Aftering
(life-journey in light of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary)
The body takes the soul to places it could not reach
alone -- alluded to by the fact that in Hebrew the words
body and wings share the same root letters.
— chabad.org, paraphrased
1. First Luminous Mystery:
The Baptism In the Jordan
Honest, I'd float. On the water, in the pool, growing
up. Water sun-lit with squiggles. Fairy writing, I
call it. Then pretend to translate.
2 Second Luminous Mystery:
Miracle At Cana
Turns out Mom could be quite unreasonable,
no dolphins to live in our pool. By age 12 I bow, she’s right –-
there’s no room. Turn to Venice beach, to Malibu’s ocean,
plunge on in. Spot their pods come dawn — magic ever.
Though no longer convinced they won’t fit, I sense a
swimming in my soul.
3. Third Luminous Mystery:
The Kingdom of God Proclaimed
Honest, I’d panic, growing list of medical progressions–-till
open a window -- Yes, please, tell me a story! How
Grandma Sarah had mist always round
her tent, and breadbin that never ran dry.
Ever Sabbath Light. While Grandpa Abraham
shook hands with angels, wangled promises,
counted Starlight. Angel of Death spares their
kinfolk it's told, deep of a Passover eve. Truth
being mystery (nonetheless nestling)
at the doorstep of Believe.
4. Fourth Luminous Mystery:
The Transfiguration
It does happen. Sometimes. Soaked
right through to my shimmer-skin,
here at the edge where the river begins
fresh flow to wash away my sins
slant of sun to gather kin
immersion of soul, ancient
Path to begin.
5. Fifth Luminous Mystery:
The Institution of the Eucharist
Honest, once begun it echoes still.
Fairies in the Foothills merge forces
with other winged things--choir unseen,
growing ring–-as I open up the shade
grab a muffin, trudge uphill. Dawn at mountain’s
base being soft, a cool hand (before the bake) and
being a being as yet without wings I break my fast
turn Home at last, humming…
*For more information on the five Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, see http://www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com/scriptural-luminous-mysteries.html .
Regarding the miracles of Sarah's tent (section 3 above) see Bereishit Rabbah 60:16, here: https://www.sefaria.org/Bereishit_Rabbah.60.16?lang=bi ; and article, here: https://www.ifcj.org/learn/holy-land-moments/daily-devotionals/the-miracles-of-sarahs-tent .
**1, 3 and 4 are from combined prompts: Freewrite around the words/concepts float, flower, flow, and Baptism--and adapt after bringing in structure. From Lisa Freedman's Float, Flow, Flower workshop (The Poetry Barn, West Hurley, NY), May/June 2021.
2 from prompt: Push through writer’s block by choosing a poem whose structure (not necessarily viewpoint) you like, and paralleling--or rebutting--poem's subject line/concept and/or poem's content/rhythm/language. Poem used as prompt was Seamus Heaney’s "Skunk". From Sharon Scholl’s Plunder Poems: Exploring Creativity Through Borrowed Words (Hope at Hand’s Jax Poetry Fest 2023).
5 from prompt: Freewrite as inspired by Alberto Rios' Into the Desert; From Mindful Poetry Moments (NPR's On Being, and The Well), April 6, 2022.
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