Hurray Sunday (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, November 26, 2023, feast day of Our Lady of Soufanieh (from which: "God saves me, Jesus enlightens me, the Holy Spirit is my life, thus I fear nothing."), Our Lady of the Mountains, and Blessed Delphine of Glandèves. On Jewish calendar today Talmud completed (475). Image from here.)

Hurray Sunday

(though it can be any day, every day)

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life 

is thank you, it will be enough. -–Meister Eckhart.

Hurray Sunday is inspired by the idea floating around out there of writing thank you cards on Thanksgiving. Which never seems to happen at our house. But we’ve been thinking, this Sunday following might just be the perfect time. That is, if it’s kept simple, perhaps an image (some favorite freebies here, here) with a short note. A “Hurray, so thankful for you!”. Which is also inspired by 94 year old Patricia (Patsy) Garlan‘s awesome philosophy of “a rumbling, tumbling ‘Yay!’ every day”, shared recently at Mythica’s Gratitude Cafe. To which, and to many more, a big…Hurray!

Ice Cream (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, November 25, 2023, Leavetaking of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos Into the Temple, and feast day of (above) Our Lady of the Rock, the Cyprus Icon of the Mother of God of Mercy, Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Imma of Würzburg. Image from here.)

Ice Cream

(vs I scream)

being dished out at birthday parties, rare toddlerhood sweet

tickling palms, soothing tummy, as nestle with family by the TV–-

day done, storytime begun

flown to when migraine looms, it works better than any pill.

“I want you to eat this”, says Mom, so simply, small smile. 

No judgment. Her love stirred right in. Me at age 11 and 

anorexic, that mint chip shake–-it was the only thing 

could break through. 

As digestion now wanes, I replace it with goat milk–-

piping hot no less–-but it suffices. Mother’s milk 

by any other name

being the same. 

*From prompt: Think of a food memory you loved or hated as a child, who or what is associated with it, its sensory experience, and how you feel about that food now. Then free write as inspired by Ted Kooser’s “Applesauce”. From Robin Nester (of The Poetry Salon)’s Generative Writing Class, November 25, 2023. 

Praying (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, November 24, 2023, Day after Thanksgiving, Afterfeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple, feast day of Our Lady of Montserrat, Saint Katherine of Alexandria, Saint Mastridia of Alexandria and Blessed Maria Anna Sala. Image from here.)

Praying 

(a found poem)

not for what I want to be

but to be opened by what is here

a rumbling tumbling

“Yay”--everyday!

*Lines (heard at Kayleen Asbo (of Mythica)’s Gratitude Cafe, November 24, 2023) are from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer and Patricia (Patsy) Garlan, respectively, used with permission.

Thank-Feel (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, November 20, 2023, Forefeast of the (above) Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, Our Lady of La Guarde, and feast day of Blessed Maria Fortunata Viti. Image from here.)

Thank-Feel

And this world— it can hold so much sadness and pain. It also holds an infinite well of wonder*

like the warmth (of hand, of heart)

and the stars (in mind, in eyes),

and all that’s melodic (Joseph's guitar

accompanying)

                                gracious

                         spacious 

and the veto power of a smile

and to-day--Its current itinerary

is enough.

*Above quote by Victoria Bennett, author, from interview on Resilience Rising podcast episode 27.

**From prompt: Free write as inspired by the etymology of “thank” and related quotes. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, November 20, 2023.

When In Darkness (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, November 18, 2023, feast day of (above) Our Lady of Chiquinquira, Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Saint Mabyn/Mabenna of Cornwall, Blessed Karoliny Kózkówny and Noah the Patriarch. Image from here.)

When In Darkness

(adventures in severe light sensitivity) 

"You get in there and fight it", says optometrist–

                                                                           though not how. 

“Likely a systemic issue, hard to treat” says another doctor, closing door.  

You get in there and cope, says self. Adapt the home, cover the windows, mask the

glare. Hunt for red and amber nightlights, light candles. Don red glasses, a dear gift

from Mom. When your Aunt finds a computer your eyes can handle, cry “Alleluia!”

You get in there and reap, says Spirit–-Cherish Light. Let the air in. They say

Icons are windows to Heaven, now near forty ringing these walls. Note             

                                        “the light shines in the darkness, and the 

                                    darkness has not overcome it.” --John 1:5

                                       

You get in there, as in inward

the appointed meeting place.

You get in there--

where the Light is

*From Prompt: Write list of difficult things have learned or accomplished, then choose one, ponder what the difficulties were there and how made things work (think both concrete and metaphorical/fanciful), how it changed you, changed world--then free write as inspired by Ellen Bass' "How to Apologize". From Robbi Nester's Saturday Generative Writing class (the Poetry Salon), November 18, 2023.

Imago Dei (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, November 11, 2023, feast day of Saint Martin of Tours and (above) Saint Marina of Omura. On Jewish calendar today is blessing of the new month, and Flood ends (2104 BC). Image from here.)

Imago Dei

(a found poem after Gerard Manley Hopkins)

‘I Am Present…is my name forever…’

–Exodus 3:14–15, Dr. Michael

LeFebvre's translation*

diverse fierce, Love’s Spark 

will flame, forge road—warm breast and 

with ah! bright wings

*Translation in light of Hebrew "to be" meaning to be active-- implying God's being present with and for His people; see also Arabic equivalent: “love, affection, passion, desire.”

**From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by Gerard Manly Hopkins introduced by Laura Rutland, and “God's Grandeur “ by Gerard Manley Hopkins. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, November 11, 2023.

Mountain Mama (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, November 11, 2023, feast day of Saint Martin of Tours and Saint Marina of Omura. On Jewish calendar today is blessing of the new month, and Flood ends (2104 BC). Image from personal SoulCollage deck.)

Mountain Mama

(while before SoulCollage version of the 

“Queen of All” Icon of the Mother of God”)

nooks sprout wings where Your 

feet brush, where Angels await–-

skyspun remedies

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by quotes mentioning feet. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, November 11, 2023.

Mothering (WC)

  

(November 10, 2023, feast day of Our Lady of Anosivolakely, Our Lady of Last Agony ("'And after this our exile, show unto us the Blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.' A true servant of Mary cannot perish..."), and Pope Saint Leo the Great. Image is from family photo album, Great Grandma Otten's restaurant, 1920's, California.)

Mothering 

(much needed about now; a found/group poem)

Closed hearts perhaps just needing a lift,

all of them kissed and hugged us 

as if we were the most wonderful children in the world–-

It could be on any menu, today’s special on any day

*Lines from self, Suzanne Westhues and Lisa Freedman (used with permission), in that order. From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by “Kissing in Vietnamese” by Ocean Vuong. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, November 5, 2023. 

First Light (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, November 8, 2023, feast day of Our Lady of the Beautiful Fountain/Bellefontaine, Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers, and feast day of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, Saint Cybi of Caenarvon (son of Saint Wenna/Gwen ferch Cynyr who was sister to Saint Non), Blessed Placidia of Verona and Blessed John Duns Scotus ("...taught that the divine was present in every object in nature, including every human being, precisely in its uniqueness [inspiring Hopkins' term 'inscape']--Laura Rutland, author). Image is "Umm Nur" (a Muslim title for Our Lady meaning "Mother of one who was Light", see also here) by Wendy Cabell, October 14, 2023, fruit of Laura Thompson's Mother of All the World Workshop.)

First Light

(a found prayer)

I am going to Light, to Love, to Life!

--last words of St Elizabeth of the Trinity

loved into being

is Thy way of seeing--speaks

Light into the night

Amen!

*The "found-lings" used/adapted above are verses collected over the course of several Saturdays (August 30-November 5, 2023) while painting during Laura Thompson's Mother of All The World Workshop.

**From combined prompts: Freewrite or otherwise create as inspired by "The Question" by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer (her lovely "All day, I replay these words: Is this the path of love?" echoes friend Kathy Keary's "Just do the next loving thing"); From Kayleen Asbo (of Mythica’)’s All Souls Online Novena, day 7, November 8, 2023. Also prompt to freewrite or otherwise create as inspired by "Living Earth’s Wisdom" by Bruce Sanguin ("The willow drops her loving arms around our shoulders and brushes us with grace"); From Reverend Dr. Victoria Marie’s Art As Spiritual Practice group, November 8, 2023. 

Rainbow Mother (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, November 1, All Saints Day (part of Fall Tridium), feast day of (above) Our Lady of Heede/the Universe, Deborah the Prophetess, Rachael the Matriarch and Ruth the Matriarch. On Jewish calendar today Great Flood Begins (2105 BC). Image from here.)

Rainbow Mother

(for the feast day of Our Lady of the Universe, 2023)

We are dressed in the scaffold of creation… 

called to co-create.-– St. Hildegard of Bingen

Red Your solid pathway

Orange our toasty glow

Yellow this sparkle of Sun

Greening from above, now below

Blue Your flowing mantle 

Indigo trailing through, Your

Violets 

sure balm for today’s

violence—Bloom soon!

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by “Blue Monday” by Diane Wakoski. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheRead Write, November 1, 2023.