March 15, 2014
Vol. 18, Issue 1
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.
DURING THIS SEASON OF
LENT as
we approach the deep solemnity of Holy Week leading to the great crescendo of
Resurrection Day, I’ve been posting poems twice weekly to my blog, to encourage
contemplation of the passion of Jesus, His victorious Resurrection and all that
means for us, the people for whom He died and rose.
JUDGING POETRY AT ST. CATHERINE’S IN RINGWOOD, NJ—
This
was a new experience for me. My poet/friend Elizabeth Marchitti and I, along
with Mary Crosby of Ringwood, were invited to judge the poems that were entered
in this year’s St. Catherine of Bologna Art, Photography & Poetry
Exhibition. We carefully read each of the poems, then huddled together to
negotiate which would be the winners.
My
husband and I attended this splendid exhibition last night. We enjoyed the
artwork, the photography, and especially the poetry reading. As always, it was well-attended,
elegant and delightful.
A
special shout out to Barbara Williams Hubbard (whose poems have appeared in
this publication on occasion) for winning the third place award for her poem, “Massachusetts
Morning.” Kudos to my friend, retired art teacher Patricia Ley, for winning the
first place award for her mixed media (linoleum print collage) titled, “The
Crowd”.
“MATURE” POETRY
WORKSHOP—
This
is my favorite poetry workshop because people of a certain age have many life
experiences to draw from, as well as a certain amount of expertise.
Participation is lively and the work that is produced comes straight from the
heart and the gut. The workshop is sponsored by the Poetry Center of Passaic
County Community College and is being facilitated alternately by Maria
Mazziotti Gillan and Laura Boss.
FEATURED POET: ALEXIS
WILKERSON
I’m
pleased to introduce you to Alexis Wilkerson. She’s a poet and member of my
congregation, Beth Israel Worship Center in Wayne, NJ. In September, Alexis sent
me some of her inspirational poems. One of them, titled, “Umbrella” made me
think of showers and springtime and seems so right to share here and now, as we
anticipate the sight of crocuses emerging through heaps of snow to signal
winter’s swan song.
I
asked Alexis to tell us about what led her to write poetry and what inspired the
poem featured here. This is her reply: “My love and appreciation of poetry became
evident at an early age with my aunt and grandmother often reading classic
poetry to me. When I was in elementary school, I began writing poetry and
enjoyed receiving recognition, in High School, when my English teacher included
some of them in the school newspaper.
“The
inspiration for ‘Umbrella’ was born out of peaceful, insightful moments spent
alone with my savior, Jesus, and His gift of simple reminders in ordinary
everyday things that He’s always lovingly caring for and protecting me, like
the Great Shepherd only He can be.”
A POEM FOR LENT—
I
perused through my collection of poems written during Lent in years past and
selected one from 2002 to share here. It’s one of my favorites. “The Black
Bronco” is about the way I spent Good Friday that year and how the Lord found a
unique way to touch my spirit simply, yet profoundly.
+ + + THE POEMS
FOLLOW + + +
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Photo Credit: hdwbin.com
UMBRELLA
Scurrying
out the door
I
turn and grab my umbrella, as I gaze up at smoky clouds
weighed
down with rain drops and about to burst
Even
in this seeming insignificance, Lord, You bring
bright
thought, a heavenly “Post-it” to my heart and mind
You are my Covering
my Protection
my Provision
Your Presence is with me, in me always,
wherever I go—
constant, steadfast, faithful
And, if this were not enough,
You cover me with Your holiness, Your
righteousness
represented by my umbrella’s colorful
brilliance!
So, no matter how sinister or overwhelming
life’s storms become,
Your Shekinah Presence transforms every
heartache,
every trial, every earthly horror
into beauty, even glory,
as You tenderly transform me into Your image
Alexis C. Wilkerson
© 2014
THE
BLACK BRONCO
Good Friday, 2002
Discontented
sad, somewhat guilty…
Usually I’d have found time
in the afternoon
to sit meditatively
and ponder the significance
of this day
Sometimes I wrote poems
or sat quietly in a church
I might have listened
to a radio preacher
or just sung, soulfully
about the house
that old, haunting hymn chorus
“Oh, how it causes me
to tremble…tremble…tremble”
Eased into the day, holy
with a long, tepid bath
and a little book
about six miracles of Calvary –
Began contemplating the darkness
that fell upon the land
for three hours
but after that
the cares of this world
sent me scurrying helter-skelter
scrubbing the kitchen floor
returning curtains to JC Penney
grocery shopping for Easter dinner
Any meaningful reflections faded
in my slide from Mary to Martha
Returning from an errand, edgy
I was stopped at a light
on Union Boulevard
Don’t know what kind of a car
was in front of me
but in front of that car
was a black Bronco
On back of the Bronco
black on black was
The Crucifixion
Jesus, dying
in utter darkness
His head bent
shoulders thrust forward
like so many paintings I’ve seen
What was this?
After a moment, I realized
it was merely a reflection
a silhouette cast by the shadow
of a telephone pole
and street lamp…
But it seemed real
I looked at the clock
It was 2:45
I drive up and down
Union Boulevard
day after day
year after year
but it was this day
this hour
this moment of need
He chose
to show me
yet again
all He did
for me
Maude
Carolan
© 2002
Comments
are always welcome and appreciated.
Look
for the next edition of It’s all about…the Lamb, June 15,
2015.
A FEW CLOSING WORDS…
Dear Reader/Subscriber,
I’ve often thought that the only reason I can bear the
sorrow of Good Friday is because I know there will be a glorious Resurrection
Sunday!…Jesus rose from the dead and that makes all the difference in the life
of a believer!!!
Blessed
be Jesus, our Risen Passover Lamb! Alleluia!
Remember...He loves ewe!
Maude
After God’s Own Heart Publishing
P.O. Box 2211, Woodland Park, NJ 07424
http://maudespoems.com
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