Biju (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, January 24, 2022, feast day of Our Lady of Damascus (modern miracle here, "Do not be frightened. I am with you. Open the doors..." ), of Our Lady of Tears, of Saint Francis de Sales, Saint Xenia ("stranger") of Rome, Saint Xenia of St. Petersburg, and Blessed Paula Gambara Costa. Tomorrow is the Conversion of Paul the Apostle. Jewish calendar today remembers Rebbetzin Chaya Mushkah Schneerson (1901-1988). Image from here.)

Biju

(for Our Lady of Damascus, on Her feast day)

Be (v.):..from Proto-Germanic *biju- 

"I am, I will be."--etymonline.com

I am spent–-I will be worried. So I am shifting to I am kind.  

I am kind, I will be hopeful. 

I am hopeful, I will be looking. 

I am looking, I will be surprised. 

I am surprised, I will hold gifts.

I hold gifts, I will unwrap.

I unwrap, I will ponder.

I ponder, I will understand a bit.

I understand a bit, I will have a tool.

I have a tool, my hands now they’ve something to hold-- with something to hold I will not be worried.

*Biju also means victory in Bengali, and jewel in French as bijou.

**From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by the etymology of “be”. From Lisa Freedman's BreatheReadWrite, January 24, 2022.

Mother-Speak (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, piece revisited January 20, 2025, but originally from same date (January 20), 2022. Feast day of Our Lady of the Miracle (connected with the Miraculous Medal, and the conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne), Our Lady of the Tables (Montpellier, France), and of Saint Eustochia of Calafato, Saint Clement of Lyon ,Saint Sebastian, Saint Maria Cristina of the Immaculata, and Blessed Ursula Haider. In 2025 this date is also Theophany/last day of Christmas season (Orthodox, old calendar). Image from here.)

Mother-Speak

(for Our Lady of the Miracle's feast day, and in memory of my Mother Jackie on the day of her passing, 2025)

that one forgets the pain arms cradling life all aftermath and ache in slanted hue

each day after busy seeking such pastel -- now that it is you know just where you're you're to

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by etymology/concept of birth and related words (I was drawn to Old Welsh beryt "to flow"). From Lisa Freedman's BreatheReadWrite, January 20, 2022. Piece is the same as was originally written back in 2022, except for the original last word being "from", and the revised last word now being "to".  

Fairy Tree (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, January 10, 2021, fourth day of Afterfeast of the Theophany, feastday of the (above) Madonna of the Lament, and of Saint Thekla of Lentini. The Jewish calendar remebers the End of the Elders Era (1228 BC). Image from here.)

Fairy Tree

(at the crossroad of compassion and efficiency, 

 January 9, 2022)

              as bee cultivates honey

                                   and ladybug eliminates aphids--

                               rose flourishes

*From prompt: Challenge to freewrite daily/as much as possible this month, from Lisa Freedman's BreatheReadWrite.

Epiphany Morn, 2021 (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, January 6, 2021, Epiphany/Theophany, and feast day of Our Lady of Cana, Saint Wiltrudis (see), Saint Andre Bessett, Saint Edyrn, Saint Julian and Basillisa, and Blessed Gertrude van Oosten. Image from here.)

Epiphany Morn, 2021

Epiphany morn

loosening sky, felicitous mist –-

laugh-drops!

*From prompt: Challenge to freewrite daily/as much as possible this month, from Lisa Freedman's BreatheReadWrite.

Epiphany Eve, 2021 (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, Epiphany/Theophany Eve (see also), feast day of Saint Euprexia and Theogina of Mineo (connected with above Saint Agrippina of Mineo), Saint Emiliana of Rome, Saint Apollonaria of Egypt,  Blessed Marcelina of Doroskwa, Blessed Paula of Tuscany, Prophet Micah, Saint John Neumann, and Saint Genoveva Torres.  Morales. Image from here.)

Epiphany Eve, 2021

forest Christmas lights

soon unplugged. Sky dome, moon, stars–-

perpetual fete

*From prompt: Challenge to freewrite daily/as much as possible this month, from Lisa Freedman's BreatheReadWrite.

Skycatch (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, December 23, 2021, Forefeast of the Nativity, and feast day of Saint Mazota of Abernathy, Saint Marguerite de Youville, and Saint Victoria (third century Roman Martyr, body remains incorruptible, memorialized in poetry by Saint Aldhelm of Sherborne). Image from here.)

nearly Christmas (December 23), 2021

starfall, sharp shift, hands 

alert -- O wonder! -- be these the 

good old days after all?

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by Carlie Simon’s Anticipation; from Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, December 23, 2021.

Well Come (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, December 17, 2021, feast day of Saint Vivina/Wivina, (above) Saint Begga of Andenne, Saint Tetta (spiritual mother of Saint Lioba), Saint Olympias of Constantinople, and Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths. Image from here.)

Well Come

You are well come, it is well

you have come for me.

–Miller Oberman

 ' Words Were Changing'

“Finally home”, sighs Heart –-

nestled not far from Ear,

her “Welcome” Heart presses to hear --

soft as the arms of Mary,

in other words:

swift antidote to fear.

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by the etymology of "welcome". From Lisa Freedman's BreatheReadWrite, December 17, 2021.

Doves (GP Jean Esteve)

 

(By guest poet Jean Esteve, a previously written poem revisited here on November 23, 2021. Image painted by Jean Esteve.)

Doves

Together and always

together

they arrive at my back yard,

misappearing as a solid

of feathers --

a gossimer cloud

that lands with a gutteral thud.

Each year they increase

in number

still showing themselves in a clump.

So adoring of only

one another

pitch they their camp

with a mutual heart-beat-like thump.

Do they think their unique

mutuality

excludes them from nature's true nature?

Or perhaps it's their 

singular beauty --

no creature wears better

such slices of gleam (pink, blue, green) in its sweater,

not reckoning that my 

true-heart, Spot,

whose raison d'etre's to keep me amused,

employs his long-nosed best

break-shot

wagging enthusiasm

at his shrewdest wild carom, cradle, masse, roquet.

The Lady and Her Cat (WC)

 

(from Bradi Barth’s "Evangelisation Wardrobe” series)

(Wendy Cabell, forefeast of the Entry/Presentation of the Theotokos Into the Holy Temple, and of the anchoress Saint Maxentia, and of martyr Saint Nerses of Sahgerd who refused to worship the sun. Today on the Jewish calender, Noah's ark comes to rest (2104 BC). Image from here.)

The Lady and Her Cat

(response to Annunciation image from Bradi

Barth’s "Evangelisation Wardrobe” series)

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring 

to be clothed with our habitation 

which is from heaven

--2 Corinthians 5:2

The striped cat just wasn’t the same

after the accidents. Good thing —

for the Lady took her in.

Liked how this cat never chewed the flowers or clawed the sheets. This cat now snuggled on quilt as the Dove comes calling.

Cat's one eye watching, spies her Mistress --

whose hands to heart. Mayhap the Dove

will drop His bit of green into Her hands!

Mayhap those hands will stroke striped fur

and waiting soul, before the hobble, pounce

— upon holy ground.

Before dinner,

and prayers and bedtime stories

and a tomorrow of nestled light...

*From prompt: Write as response to a piece of art selected from those presented in Betsy Beckman and Kathleen Kitchline's Abbey of the Arts retreat Once Upon a Time in a Town Called Nazareth, November 20, 2021. Bradi Barth's image was selected, above.)

Downsizing (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, November 17, 2021, feast day of Our Lady of Zion (apparition to Alphonse Ratisbonne), Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Saint Hilda of Whitby (above; Saint Hilda also inspired Saint Caedmon), Saint Gregory of Neocaesarea, and Saint Gregory of Tours. The Jewish calendar today commemorates the completion of the Talmud. Image from here.)

Downsizing

The amount of information this mind can handle is dwindling. Trying not to be alarmed, escape this glitch unharmed, its lengthening string of diagnoses, physical disabilities -- Brain’s overload seeks neuroplasticity. Switch to hands, handy boundary, only so much they can hold. Currently clasped in truce, bidding “Look! how different it might be", and was: just a child, out walking with Mom, horizon real, its Heavens forever but only now in hand –

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired after hearing Micha Hamel’s "Wandering Thoughts (During a Meeting)". From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, November 15, 2021.

Heart's Pace (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, feast day of Our Lady of Almudina (Almudina Cathedral is above), of the Quick to Hear Icon of the Mother of God, of Saint John Lateran Basilica, of Saint Triduana (who traveled with Regulus/Rule bringing Saint Andrew's bones to Scotland), and of Saint Theoctiste of Lesbos. Image from here.)

Heart's Pace

In the heart

where a small boat awaits,

where blue meets red

(ebbs pulse instead)

I will meet you.

You who know the way. As

my own legs give sway,

I will follow

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired after listening to Patti Smith's M Train. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite led in collaboration with Arvid van Maaran, November 9, 2021.

Immigration (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, November 8, 2021, feast day of (above) Our Lady of Good Guard (connected Basilica has fascinating history*), Synaxis of the  Archangel Micheal and the Other Bodiless Powers, Saint William of Bourges and Blessed Isabella of France and other Saints of Evry, feast day of  All Deceased Dominicans and of All Saints of  Wales, feast day of Saint Cybi, Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, Blessed John Duns Scotis, and Blessed Maria Crucified Satellico. On the Jewish calendar today commemorates the Zachariah's prophesy in Zachariah 7-8; also Purim Teveryah. Image from here.)

Immigration

(Fall, 2021, after the funeral of my Great-Uncle Art)

My great-grandmother, Elizabeth Otten, moved from her native Germany to the US in the 1920's, opening her own restaurant. She lost it in the Great Depression and became manager instead. Throughout it all, a Rosary nestled in her apron pocket. Even during her busy workday, she'd stop right where she was and pray its beads whenever a brief moment allowed.

Our family still has one of the little creme pitchers that helped set the tables in Grandma Otten's restaurant. But the real heirloom has been a continued family devotion to the Rosary. In September of 2021 my great-uncle Art passed away, peacefully while praying the Rosary with his children. I left his funeral with a strange hope, where grief should have dwelt.

       Ascending

  Mary’s Mountain

you leave footholds.     

  

Orphaned pitcher--      

      cream rises

        to top.

*From Wikipedia: The Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Garde basilica was preceded by a chapel dating back to the days of the Christianization of Île-de-France, built in the oldest place of Marian worship in the region: according to legend, the druids venerated a statue of the Virgin there. even before the passage of Saint Denis, who explained to them that Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, and that Isaiah's prophecy (7; 14) had already been fulfilled...AA Priscus, chief of the Carnutes tribe, would have requested the statue or its replica and would have transported it to Chartres, where it would be at the origin of the Notre-Dame de Chartres cathedral. According to the canons of the cathedral of Chartres, oaks from Longpont would have been used for the framework of the cathedral, undoubtedly because of the spiritual power emanating from this place in the imagination of the contemporaries...A vestige of the mysterious statue of the Gauls would also remain; it would be embedded in the right leg and foot of the statue of Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Garde in the axis chapel, which is dedicated to it.”

**Prompted by William Seiyo Shehan’s Virtual Haiku Workshops (September and October 2021), to create a haiku after experiencing Buddist death meditation, and create a haibun on topic of choice.

Labyrinth (WC)

                        

                             

(Wendy Cabell, November 3, 2021 (written previous, see footnotes), feast day of Saint Martin de Porres, Saint Winifred of Wales (her uncle, Saint Bueno Gasulsych, is above), Blessed Ida (Judith/Gutta) of Toggenburg, Blessed Alphais of Cudot, Saint Sylvia of Rome (mother of Saint Gregory the Great/the Dialogist), Saint Snandulia of Persia, and Dedication of the Church of the Greatmartyr George in Lydia. Image from here.)

Labyrinth

Hint: I am a crossroad. It’s

not too late to learn to unwind. Leave

all that’s not kind, behind. Some

things you might find:

     -Softened breath

     -A longing for tea

     -Ears for birdsong

     -Unconscious Psalmody,

           if can only

leave all that’s not kind, behind,

knowing: there is no other

crossing than this.

*From prompt: Freewrite after hearing Wislawa Szymborsk’s Advertisement. The line “It’s not too late to learn to unwind” is a quote from this poem. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, September 19, 2021.