Minimal Requirements (WC)

  

Reposted in honor of Pope Francis

(Wendy Cabell, September 14, 2023, feast day of the (above) Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, the Lesna Icon of the Mother of God, Our Lady of Einsiendeln, Our Lady of Steinbach, and Blessed María López de Rivas Martínez (confidant of Saint Teresa of Avila; body incorrupt). On Jewish calendar today is the Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars (3760 BC). Image from here.)

Minimal Requirements

(for Pope Francis)

–Time: to care more, not less

–Space: an ocean’s plain –- for love 

 

      t o   s w i m

  

                       a r o u n d

                              i n 

–Magic: pearls –- from grit-glide-time

  ( as in lots and lots of time ) 

          for star’s  b l o o m

*Based on a quote from Pope Francis, Love needs time and space; everything else is secondary. [Author Laura Alary looks to something similar, a trio of time, space and room (receptivity/generosity.)]

**From combined prompts: Freewrite as inspired by “homage to my hips” by Lucille Clifton (Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite Studio Time, September 14, 2023), Ana Blandiana’s “As if” (Lisa Freedman’s Type.Coalesce.Become,June 2, 2023), Ted Kooser’s “Pearl” (Marj Hahne’s Poem a la Mode, IWWG, June 2, 2023, near Our Lady of Bocco's feast), and  “blossoms at night” by Kobayashi Issa and “the old pond” by Matsuo Basho (Tresha Faye Haefner‘s Friday Editing class, The Poetry Salon, May 31, 2024).

When Entangled* (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, composed sometime in February but gathered March 3, 2025, Beginning of Great Lent, feast day of Our Lady of Miracles, Our Lady of Angels, the Volokolamsk Icon of the Mother of God, Saint Non of Wales, Saint Katharine Drexel, Saint Teresa Eustochio Verzeri, Blessed Concepcion Cabrera de Armida. Further edited After Pope Francis' passing on Bright Monday April 21, piece was further edited on Bright Thursday April 24 (also Molcha/Molchensk/Ladder Icon of the Mother of God, and passing of Patriarch Joshua). Image from here.)

When Entangled*

(for Pope Francis)

Come from the four winds, O breath,

and breathe on these slain,

that they may live -- from Ezekiel 37:9

Seeds fallen among thorns. 

Bills and bicker, borders...

                    

Be simple, 

Our Mama says, 

                 breathe...

Love -- extraordinary bloom -- needs time, needs space,

bed, chair, glow-table, hands across.

A few words: Sorry. Thank you. Please...

Everything else is secondary.

*A cento-esqe poem inspired by all the sources linked to above (Matthew 13:7 and Our Lady of the Thorns, Our Lady of Mercy/Pellevoisin, André Frossard, Pope Francis, 2 Kings 4:8-11, and again Pope Francis, respectively). Most notably inspired by the following quotes from Pope Francis (Amoris Laetitia/The Joy of Love): 

To lean towards Love (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, February 16, 2025, Sunday of the Prodigal Son, feast day of Our Lady of the Thorns (burning bush), Our Lady of Sajópálfala, the Weeping “Tikhvin” Icon of the Mother of God, Saint Mariamne the sister of the Apostle Philip,  Blessed Bernard Scammacca, Blessed Filippa Mareri. Image from here.)

To lean towards Love: 

forgiveness

patience

joy

says today’s homily.

Our local centenarian’s twist: 

Walk on the beach. 

Work hard. 

Be kind.

*From prompt: Free write as inspired by “Trying” by Ada Limón.

From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, February 16, 2025. 

To Weather Through (WC)

  

(Wendy Cabell, originally from January 12, 2025, feast day of the Baptism of the Lord (Orthodox, afterfeast), (above) Our Lady of Guadalupe “Little Indians” festival, Our Lady of Conquering Love, Our Lady of the Rue Large, Milk-Giver, Akathist & Priestly, Icons, Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, St Caesaria of Arles, St Tatiana, Saint Aelred (quotes), St Parthena, St Eupraxia, St Benedict Biscop, Bl Lucia, St John of Ravenna, Sts Eutropius & Tigrius, Bl Bernardo de Plano (Mercedarian), St Bernard of Corleone, Bl Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung, St Satyrus (Cross miracle). Today's Jewish calendar Ezekiel Prophesies Egypt's Downfall, 424 BC. Image from here.)

To Weather Through

Hush into your softest dress. Candle the table. 

Home the cup, warm blossom brew.

Solace the task at hand.

Forage the dictionary, scout for love:

Old English lufian ‘to cherish’…

Christmas the day —

do we gift ourselves

    each other

             enough? 

*Original draft of this was the last poem read to Mom before her passing (passed January 20, 2025). Inspired by January 12th’s video binge (10 ways to live like a Grandma in 2025, Grandma goes VIRAL ), and combined prompts: Freewrite as inspired by Audre Lorde’s “The Cancer Journals” (from Daisy Barrett Nash’s Legacy lines, January 29 and February 5, 2025) and “My Therapist Wants to Know about My Relationship to Work” (from Tresha Heaffner’s Write Games (the Poetry Salon), January 30, 2025). 

Survivor (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, edited January 2025, but originally from March 20, 2022, Our Lady of Bołszowce, Our Lady of Calevourt, feast day of Saint Photini and Companions, Saint Gregory Palamas, Saint Cuthbert and Saint Maria Josefa of the Heart of Jesus. Image from here.)

Survivor

Whorling road its street signs bared,

re-Christened each pass of moon

was it so you could imagine a time

simply human again…

sunflower on the table 

steaming mug 

hands clasped

rising sun once more, then 

another —

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by Shailja Patel’s ICC Kenya Trials. From Lisa Freedman’s BreathReadWrite, March 20, 2022.

Here (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, November 23, 2024, afterfeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple, feast day of (above) Our Lady Concepción, Granada, Blessed Enrichetta Alfieri . Image from here.)

Here

where I'll calm and craft

keep on digging

find the rhythm

its  s  p  a  c  e   apart,

warm hands, kind walls, 

Sunday dinner —

It’s enough

*Freewrite as inspired by Thomas Lux, “Poem in Thanks”. From Tresha Haefner’s Gratitude gathering (The Poetry Salon), November 23, 2024. (rl: baptism cert.)

Light builds a home (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, June 20 ,2024, Summer Solstice, feast day of Our Lady of Consolation/Grace (Saint Therese's help for entering Carmel), the Hodegetria Icon of the Mother of God, and Blessed Margareta Ebner ("a leading example of what is termed 'mother-mysticism'"). Jewish calendar today commemorates Jewish Books Spared (1510). Image from here.) 

Light builds a home

1. Walk your ground

2. Determine ratio of welcomed Sky

3. Orient to Jericho’s echo

4. Stone upon stone now, raise a pantry at the entry -–

5. Stock with honey, milk

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by “Solstice” by Tess Taylor. From Lisa Freedman’s Summer Solstice BreatheReadWrite, June 20, 2024.