A Blessed Sacrament

Poems From The Porch

photo by Chris Ensminger on Unsplash.com

What a joy it is to watch the duck pair fly from tree to tree,
 enjoying each place for a while,
 then moving on!

 A curiosity it is in what the appeal might be
 in a place without a pond.

Still, for so many days,
 intermittent, perhaps,
 here they are.

 Where is the stout raccoon
 with the countenance of a grandfather,
 who used to take his meals on this porch,
 then limp away?

 Ever abiding in my heart,
 he lives in memorial,
 as do all the dogs and cats I’ve ever known,
 leaving their paw print impressions,
 alongside the people whose smiles adorn my soul.

 Their life blood pulses in the warmth of their love and mine,
 intangible, yet felt in the gifts they left behind.

 Life, a blessed sacrament of infinite self-giving,
 has offered me an impromptu ducky visit today.
 Yesterday, it was the companionship of a friend,
 another time the fragrance of tender roses.

 What else might today bring,
 in the ever-unfolding benevolence of the precious present?

 There must be Someone to thank.

Engaging With The Poem

 Poetry can be a doorway to the soul and your own creativity. Throughout the ages, the written word has been used as a means to access personal truth and as a vehicle for prayer through the practice of sacred reading (lectio divina). I encourage you to try this beautiful practice and let its fruits be self-evident.

 How to Practice Sacred Reading

Read the passage through slowly more than once, noticing how it feels in your body and the response of your heart.

 Reflect: What word resonates with you? What phrase speaks to you?
 What overall personal meaning comes to you? Allow yourself to follow a tangent.

 Respond by making space for the prayer of your heart to manifest. Write down the words and/or phrases that resonate with you and allow them to arrange themselves into your own poem or prayer.

 Rest with your eyes closed, perhaps using the word that most resonates with you as your mantra for silent meditation.

Dear friend,

 May your mind be peaceful and calm,
 may your body be relaxed and comfortable,
 and may your heart be filled with love.

 Thank you for reading.

 Blessings and gratitude,
 Ani