She Who Knows the Way (WC)

 

Wendy Cabell. Though piece began February 15, 2025, it evolved over time, and is being shared today April 27, Divine Mercy Sunday and feast day of Our Lady of Light (When the work is done, said the Virgin, all shall know by its more than human beauty that a greater mind and a higher art have arranged the composition and laid the colors), Our Lady of Montserrat, Saint Zita of Lucca and Blessed Maria Antonia Bandrés y Elósegui. Image is a Medieval Marian Mosaic from Saint Mary Major, from here.)

She Who Knows the Way

(for Pope Francis)

A rendezvous spot, Saint Mary Major.

She leaves directions, Be:

Simple

Humble

Essential.

Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, 

in the crossing of my arms? 

Do you need something more?

*Inspired by Pope Francis’ burial wishes (here), his burial place (here), and Our Lady’s words to Saint Juan Diego and by extension to us (from here): Listen, put it into your heart, my youngest and dearest son, that the thing that frightens you, the thing that afflicts you, is nothing: do not let it disturb you…Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need something more? Let nothing else worry you or disturb you.

Queen of Heaven (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, February 2, 2025, Candlemas, feast day of (above) (amazing butterfly connection here), Our Lady of Coromoto, Our Lady of Good Success, Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac. Image from here.)

Queen of Heaven,

Earth-tides they follow

if I could too.

Silk Your hem across my cheek,

                                 hymn Ave.

World afloat, a babe lifted, 

eyes upon You —

You, my sheerest passage

                                   Home

*From combined prompts: Freewrite in the spirit of love as worship, and love as pleasure, considering poems such as “Dulzura” by Sandra Cisneros, and quotes such as Adrienne Maree Brown’s “... joy is in the feeling of enough... enough love in this world for me to experience…. the sustaining generosity… ” from “The Power in Pleasure”. From Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo’s Messy and Brite: Writing the Love Poem (The Poetry Salon), February 2, 2025.

Lily Song (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, from previous post: a past poem revisited January 10, 2021, Sunday of the Blessing of the Waters (Eastern Orthodox); and feast day eve of Saint Luminosa of Pavia (patron of booksellers; represented with lily/three lilies) and of the above Yelets Icon of the Mother of God)

An early poem, Mom said it was one of her favorites, so reposting it to remember and honor her

Lily Song

And why are you anxious about clothing?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;

they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even

Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like

one of these. - Matthew 6: 28-29

Sparkles are empty, now after the real,

And this longing for beauty is forever.

Breeze through the field now, blows where it will,

And this longing for beauty is forever.

Through sun, through dew, till we drop to earth, to sky,

And this longing for beauty is forever.

Sky too deep too blue to dazzle -- holy mantle,

And this longing for beauty is forever.

Sparkles are empty, now after the real,

And this longing for beauty is forever.

Breeze through the field now, blows where it will,

And this holding of Beauty is forever. 

Mediatrix (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, edited January 2025, but originally from February 8, 2022, afterfeast of the (above) Meeting of our Lord in the Temple, feast day of Our Lady of Virtues, Our Lady of the Lily, Our Lady of Lourdes Uruguay, Saint Josephine Bakhita, Saint Elfleda of Whitby, Blessed Elisa Martinez, Blessed Esperanza de Jesus, Blessed Jacoba de Settesoli, Saint Kigwe, Saint Cuthman of Steyning, On Jewish calendar today is Moses' Birth & Passing, 1393 and 1273 BC. Image from here.)

Mediatrix

            a title of the Blessed Virgin

            as mediator of grace

            -- CatholicCulture.org

When in Mother’s arms

softened gaze.

She changes everything.

She changes everything She touches

and everything She touches changes

till diverge, emerge —  

ice to river, stone to sand 

so much simpler than before.

Not yet knowing what’s to be done, but

begun

*The above “She changes… touches changes” is  from pg 107 of Circle of Song by Kate Marks, being the chorus from Lauren Liebling and Starhawk’s Kore Chant. There are traditions in both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox supporting Pagan faith/philosophy as anticipating Christianity, eg here (note The Sybil of Erythraea top upper left). It's not hard to imagine the anticipation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in chants such as the Kore chant. 

**From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by something in the etymology of mistake (I chose divergent). From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, February 8, 2022

World Seeks Mother (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, edited January 2025, but originally from August 26, 2024, feast day of Our Lady of Treille/Arbour, Our Lady of the Seven Arrows (softener of hearts), Our Lady of Częstochowa, Our Lady of Divine Grace, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane, the Virgin of Tenderness Icon of the Mother of God of the Pskov Caves, Blessed Jean Bassano (spiritual director of Saint Colette), Blessed Margaret of Faenza (spiritual student of Saint Humilitas and Saint Teresa of Jesus Ibars. Image from here.)

World Seeks Mother

A joyful heart is good medicine…

--Proverbs 17:22

On this all factions can agree:

We’ve had enough of sorrow

Mom’s touch is spacious as the sun —

Its warmth seeps in for tomorrow

The tune she hums it sweeps the heart

scoots shadows far and near

newsfeeds can rest, this one life --

more to it than fear

*Inspired by my Mom, ever ready with good medicine! And from prompt: free write as inspired by “Red Tights” by Danusha Laméris, Kim Malinowski’s Poetry Salon class of August 26, 2024. 

Petals (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, revisted January 2025, as considering a rose petal synchronicity awaiting my Mom upon her moving to assisted living. Originally from December 18, 2021, full moon, feast day of the (above) Expectation of the Virgin Mary, and of the Mercedarians Redeemers. Jewish calendar commemorates Abraham Ibn Ezra's receiving Letter from the Shabbat Queen in 1159, as well as Purim Hebron. Image from here.)

Petals

Sky’s mantle, She smooths it out

                 petals slip through -- 

                                       O Lamp

                                       O Staff

                                       O Root

                                       O Key

                                       O Dawn

                                       O Crown

                                       O Presence –-

                                         inevitable Her   

                                   u n r a v e l i n g 

                                  o u r  w a y

* “O…”: These stem from the seven O Antiphons, prayed during Advent. The O Antiphons are based on Isaiah’s prophecies, revealing the different titles given to the Messiah. They are also the inspiration behind O Come O Come Emmanuel.

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by Luis Eduardo Rendon’s “The Only Key to Heaven”. From Lisa Freedman's BreatheReadWrite, December 18, 2021.

At Guadalupe (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, revisted January 2025, a haiku-esqe gleaned from piece "Petals", originally from December 18, 2021, full moon, feast day of the Expectation of the Virgin Mary, and of the Mercedarians Redeemers. Jewish calendar commemorates Abraham Ibn Ezra's receiving Letter from the Shabbat Queen in 1159, as well as Purim Hebron. Image from here.)

At Guadalupe

Sky’s mantle,

    She smooths it out — 

                             petals 

                          slip 

               through… 

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by Luis Eduardo Rendon’s “The Only Key to Heaven”. From Lisa Freedman's BreatheReadWrite, December 18, 2021. 

Love comes armed (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, September 4, 2024, New Moon of  Elul (most notable for the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy), and feast day of the (above) Georgian (or Gruzinskaya) Icon of the Mother of God, the Unburnt Bush Icon of the Mother of God, Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses, Saint Hermione, On Jewish calendar today, Moses ascends Sinai for 3rd 40 days, 1313 BC; and Prophecy of Haggai Encouraging Building of the Second Temple, 353 BC. Image from here.)

Love comes armed

with Her bin and broom.

Gathers peace, grace

palest green that seeks the Sun.

All the rest: dust, pebbles

 

                                swish,

                                    sweep

  

                She keeps at it --

leaves nothing the same.

*From prompt: freewrite as inspired by “love is ___”, after considering Edwin Morgan's "The Unspoken". From Daisy Barrett-Nash’s Legacy Lines (Writers at Play), September 4, 2024.

Come! (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, June 18, 2024, 2nd day of  special nine day Peace Novena to Our Lady of Medugorje, and feast day of  the Appearance of Our Lady to St Agnes of Montepulciano, Our Lady of Garabandal, (above) Our Lady of Igor/Icon, St. Theneva of Glasgow (mother of Saint Kentigern/Mungo), Saints Edburga and Edith of Aylesbury, Blessed Marina of Spoleto and Saint Elizabeth of Schönau (friend of Saint Hildegard of Bingen). Image from here.)

Come!

(for Our Lady's Novena plea, June, 2024)*

Come! on Love's path, warm

light. Peace flows from God, so pray –-

Fear not, Mama’s here

*This haiku is after Our Lady of Medugorje's message of April 25, 2009.

She (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, February 1, 2024, Saint Bridget’s Day, Imbolc, Forefeast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple, Socola Icon of the Mother of God, Martyrs Perpetua and company, Blessed Ela of Lacock. On Jewish calendar today is Rebbetzin Chaya Mushkah Schneerson’s Yahrtzeit (1988). Image from here, and more info here.)

She

(according to Saint Brigid of Kildare) 

small acts, willing love

holds what is most powerful

even magical

*Inspired by "THE BRIDGE Brigid of Kildare"episode of the What’s Her Name Podcast, most specifically this part: “Call it belief, call it faith, call it physics, her life story has always been held up as an example that to those who believe all things are possible. Brigid of Kildaire believed in the goodness of people. She believed that small actions are enough. They are powerful, even magical”