"Feed My Sheep"

Photo of my grandson, Antonio, taken in 2015
by his mother, Omayra Lopez Caruso

SHEEP’S DEN

Omayra texted a photo she took

of Antonio, now eight—

He was on his knees, feeding a lamb

out of his hand

My home is full of sheep—

It could even be called a sheep’s den

Sometimes my grandchildren

roam from room to room

trying to count them

but they never come close

to counting them all

Sometimes the little ones draw pictures

of sheep grazing or of lions and lambs

which I gladly affix to the refrigerator door

with amusing lamb magnets

There’s an assortment

of whimsical woolies on the windowsill

above the kitchen sink

and various sheep are featured

on coffee mugs in the cupboard

One silly wooly sits on top of the water cooler

and a wee bean bag lamb

is perched atop the treadmill

where it watches me exercise

Plush sleepy sheep lie on all the beds

novelties dangle from doorknobs

lamps and windows

There are finely carved olive wood sheep

on the china cabinet in the living room

not to mention a cozy lamb sweater

and socks in bureau drawers

lamb pins and pendants

stashed in my jewelry box

Lambs, lambs everywhere

lambs to make us smile

lambs to remind us

we’re here to feed

the hungry sheep

Feeding His sheep—

is what I do

by sharing a verse, a poem

a little money, a meal

all for the love of my Shepherd

Feeding His sheep—

just as grandson, Antonio

is lovingly learning to do

Maude Carolan Pych

The above poem was written in 2015. Antonio Caruso is now nine years old.