June 15, 2012
Vol. 12, Issue 2
It’s
all about…The Lamb
Maude
Carolan Pych/Quarterly Poetry Letter
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power
and riches
and wisdom and might and honor and glory and
blessing.” Rev
5:12 NASB
It’s
all about…The Lamb is a quarterly publication for lovers of the
Holy Lamb of God, who also enjoy poetry. The purpose is to magnify our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, and inspire an ever-deepening relationship with Him, the
lover of our souls…
My Dear Subscribers,
A change is coming. I’ve been publishing this poetry
letter via email for more than twelve years as a ministry and labor of love. Additionally,
in October, I created a poetry blog online. It’s received more than two
thousand views, and has developed into an exciting way to glorify the Lord
through poetry. Now, I am combining both publications. I’ll continue to post to
the blog, Maude’s Poems, three or four
times a month, and every quarter an edition of the e-letter will be posted that
will include uplifting narrative, occasionally feature poets and writers, and present
news about poetry and poetry events. You’ll easily find it all at: maudespoems.com
Beginning with the September 15 issue, instead of
receiving the poetry letter as an email publication, I will email the link to all
subscribers so the blog may be easily accessed with a click of the mouse. You’ll
be able to enjoy the publication with more poetry and online graphics. You will
also be able to send comments directly from the blog.
I have had this in mind for a while, but since my
computer crashed a few months ago and some data was lost, I decided to begin
implementing changes right away on the new computer equipment.
POETRY AWARD:
Last week I was notified that I’ll receive an honorable
mention award for a poem submitted to the national 2012 Allen Ginsberg Poetry
Contest, sponsored by the Passaic County Community College, Maria Mazziotti Gillan,
Director. I am particularly pleased about this because it is for At the Armory on the Sabbath Day, a poem
in a series on pilgrimage to Israel, which will eventually be included in a
book manuscript. A special awards presentation
reading will be held in February at The Poetry Center, in Paterson, NJ. The
poem will also appear in the next edition of The Paterson Literary Review.
A POET’S TEA:
One of the loveliest events that I’ve had the pleasure of
hosting was a poet’s tea for a few writer friends. I took an old and rarely
used lace tablecloth out of the cedar chest and set the dining room table in an
especially “fussy” manner, prepared a few especially fussy dishes and particularly
dainty goodies and served a variety of exotic teas, ginger peach, licorice
spice, jasmine and a deep red one called passion which reminds me of Jesus’
sacrifice for me. There was plenty of time to enjoy each other’s company and
for each of us to read some favorite poems, ours or that of other poets. It was
so enjoyable that I’m sure I’ll plan another tea another time.
FEATURED POET:
BARBARA WILLIAMS-HUBBARD…
My friend Barbara was invited to the poet’s tea, but was
unable to join us because she and her husband were visiting family and
traveling in Poland, Germany and Holland. Etta read Barbara’s poem about Mary
Magdalene at the tea. It’s a poem that was published in this poetry letter in
2003. Now that she’s home from her travels, I asked if I could include it here
again, and she graciously agreed.
Let me also say that Barbara won an award for one of her
poems at the St. Catherine of Bologna Art, Photography & Poetry Exhibition,
held in Ringwood, NJ, in March.
+++
THE POEM FOLLOWS +++
FROM DEATH TO LIFE—
MARY MAGDALENE’S DAWN
I walked down the streets—
Struggling with my tears—
My face hidden behind the cover
of my cloak—
The aroma of oils and spices for burial
enveloping me
with a sense of finality
I did not wish to face.
The race for freedom from Rome
was now over.
My brothers were in hiding
fearing for their lives,
Guilty by association.
So much about freedom
they didn’t understand.
But I knew one thing;
He had set me free—
Free from the sin that had
enveloped me
like the aroma of the oils and spices
I now carried—
Free from the accusing fingers of men
that had used me for their purposes.
Nothing could change that.
He loved me just as I was.
He was my Savior.
He was my Friend.
I wept. I wept
for my brothers and sisters.
I wept for Him.
I wept for myself.
My sisters joined me on this walk.
Finding no body to anoint,
they went home in disbelief.
I stayed.
This was my final offering—
the last thing I could do
for my Friend.
and I did not even know
where now His body laid.
Voices—voices from the tomb
asked, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
I answered: “They have taken away
my Lord and I do not know
where they have laid Him.”
Another voice—
the gardener I presumed—
caressed me in the dawn.
“Woman, why do you weep?”
I answered: “Sir if you
have carried Him away
tell me where you have laid Him
and I will take Him away.”
And then, my name,
“Mary”—the same familiar voice
that had caressed my heart
from the start of my new journey
from the brink of death
by stoning into life.
The stones were taken from me
that day.
Today, He rolled the final stone
of death away.
“Rabboni.” My voice quivered:
unbelief, belief,
sorrow, then joy so uncontainable
I hugged Him to be sure.
He sent me to tell the others—
My brothers.
Time stopped with me at the door,
When I told them,
When I told them,
I had seen the Lord!
Barbara R. Williams-Hubbard
© Easter, 2003
Permission to forward or copy is automatic and encouraged
as long as credit is given.
Comments are welcome and appreciated.
A FEW CLOSING WORDS…
Dear Subscriber,
Have a wonderful, relaxing,
sun-shiny and blessed summer!
…and remember, when the link
appears in your email box, September 15, 2012,
just a click of the mouse will bring you to Maude’s Poems and the next edition of It’s all about…The Lamb.
Shalom,
Maude
After God’s Own Heart Publishing
P.O.
Box 2211, Woodland Park, NJ 07424
