from Vespers of Palm Sunday

"For it is written; I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee: there you shall see Me, says the Lord. "

Simplicity

A little drink,
a little bread,
a little place
to lay my head.
a book to read,
a place to pray,
a song to sing
throughout the day.
Such work to do
as God has planned,
that I may help
my fellow man.
A soul at peace
and truly free.
To live happily
in simplicity.

Between the lines

At first you came right up to me,
a little shy, but bolder as the time went on.
You came so close, you could have touched me
then and there; but suddenly you vanished
into thin air, leaving me to wonder why
you walked away: but now I know,
though you didn't mean to show me,
that what you wanted was to stay.

Surreal

You stretched out your hand,

and as I went to take it,

you disappeared as quickly

as you first appeared,

leaving me to wonder whether

you were ever there at all.

Or did I dream you? Surreal.

It feels that way.

A Child's Prayer

O my dear, forgive me for my sins.
I am very, very, very, very sorry
for putting more thorns and nails
in your skin, dear Jesus.


--written by Mary Jordan, age 10

April

"The roofs are shining from the rain,
The sparrows twitter as they fly,
And with a windy April grace
The little clouds go by.
Yet the back yards are bare and brown
With only one unchanging tree.
I could not be so sure of Spring
Save that it sings in me."

--Sara Teasdale

April

"The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
you're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March."

--Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time, 1926