“Put your mouthful of words away
and come with me to watch
the lilies open in such a field,
growing there like yachts,
slowly steering their petals
without nurses or clocks.”
Anne Sexton, The Complete Poems



Dan (Now Father Daniel Sormani, C.S.SP) and me circa 1962 – last time I was taller than anybody!

In honor of springtime and Holy Week (coming up), my hunger for rest and renewal, and a visit (Hooray!) with my cousin Daniel, whom I haven’t seen in over forty years, I’ll not be online much until April 22nd or so.

The next  Wednesday Writing Prompt will post on April 24.

The next Opportunity Knocks will post on April 25.

I plan to take a serious rest from Facebook, but will on occasion bring you blog updates on opportunities or interesting information. I won’t be visiting blogs, reading email, or posting regularly until after Easter.


silhouettes-of-childrenthere’s little i’d want to live over
but a few moments, with special people,
their memory held safe, gently wrapped,
with affection, like a
gift waiting to be touched,
opened and savored …

ribbon tugged
….. paper unfurled

the scent of other children, brothers,
the timbre of their voices, those early days,
the freshness playing in my mind,
in flickering light, like

an eight-millimeter film
…..of toddlers and youths

haunting the years until today
when i found you again

i reached out 
…..and you reached back

© 2014, poem, Jamie Dedes, All rights reserved
Illustration ~ courtesy of George Hodan, Public Domain Pictures.net


My cousin Dan:

What Have We Done That People Can Pick Up Weapons and Kill?, Fr. Daniel Sormani, C.S.Sp.

Fr. Daniel S. Sormani, C.S.Sp.

My cousin is a priest who has lived and worked in Algeria and Dubai and until recently was teaching theology at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. He asks in a feature article for The BeZine, What Have We Done that People Can Pick-up Weapons and Kill.  

“We have become our own worst enemy. Whenever we separate the world into ‘them’ and ‘us’, whenever we accept blind generalizations and cease to see a unique individual before us, whenever we forget we are all victims of carefully orchestrated deceit and deception for wealth and power, the force of darkness wins. Bullets will never win this struggle, only the heart and mind will.”

Mom’s rosary beads and Dan’s Arabic Bible

 


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9 Comments

  1. So happy that you are taking some time to refresh and renew. Wishing renewed strength for your body, mind and soul as you slow down and are decadently self-absorbed!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Dear Jamie it seems I’ve been extremely remiss in not responding sooner to this post. Yet again a touching poem and wonderful memories. I hope you have a great reunion and a loving time with your family. If I don’t see you before Easter I also hope you have a deserved rest from the “Wilds” of Facebook and your gracious responsibilities. I look forward to your next posts and the next “Prompt”.
    Take Good Care Jamie.
    Jen 🙂💜🙋‍♀️🌼 xo

    Like

  3. Dear Respected Jamie Ji may the coming time,holidays and family get together may be the happiest of times may joy good health happiness and peace be with you now and always amen

    Like

  4. Love this post and how you have put together Anne Sexton’s poem, yours and your cousin Dan’s preaching. All the words are very powerful. Also, I love the pictures. Great post, Jamie!

    Liked by 1 person

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