Three Poems Inspirited by the Maryknoll Wide Retreat

Today, Monday October 9 will be the last day of the Maryknoll Wide Retreat sponsored by the Committee of 12. To date, the feedback has been very positive. That could be an understatement.

Ann Hayden, Maryknoll Sister and former Affiliate Board member was inspired by the Retreat to write three poems. They follow below. The italics are Ann’s words.

This poem flows from Diarmuid’s very powerful presentation.  

Slowly  10/06/2023

Slowly, beauty unfolds and

Paths appear to the one
The only, and the ALL.
Slowly, grace flows over, under,
And through, all that IS.  

Relationship  10/08/2023

> Sometimes I have felt like
> A beggar from another world
> Searching for compassion-forgiveness
> Hoping for a communion of
> Listening and healing that holds
> All forms of life sacred; and that
> Deepens and spreads a silent
> Sense of mutual belonging.
> I AM a beggar for interconnected life.
> And I pray that, one day, I may live my   Life in the harmony of Ubuntu
> With and within all of creation!
          

Just want to connect with the poems that are arising in this encounter of like spirits in commitment to Mission.  Nature’s Way springs from my walk outside yesterday.  

 Nature’s Way   10/06/2023

Promise lives in this land, 

And amid the rocks, her joyful

Flowers still bloom, while smells 

Of warm pumpkin bread fills the air.

In the cool breeze, 

Gratitude shakes the leaves 

Of the trees into brilliant 

Colors of yellow and orange.

And all the while, as turkey hens 

Strut about and call out for their young,

Now fully grown and on their own, 

Nature is preparing a season of 

Gratefulness’s for us once again.