fear not the rub of ash
fear not the rub of ash the burning
away of want of wanting
for the future a yet to be He stripped
and bared before us our own cross
bears our sacrifice but tincture
of tears weep none for the past
once passed returns our Son
our scarlet scars to heal in dark
to rise from ash His sign revealed
______________________________
I wrote this poem for Abbey of the Arts Poetry Party #44, "Entering the Desert's Fire"; and for Carry On Tuesday's prompt for February 16, which comprises this quote from 19th Century poet Percy Bysshe Shelley's "To a Skylark": "Fear not for the future / Weep not for the past".
Go here for the poems or the links to the poems collected for the Abbey's poetry party. The deadline for contributions is Friday, February 19. There will be a random drawing that day for a copy of Christine Valters Paintner's Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write.
Go here for links to all the poems for Carry on Tuesday.
Monday, February 15, 2010
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9 comments:
I would like to read this again on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Reading it, I feel humbled.
"fear not the ash" - that moment is a solemn one, isn't it? A beautiful little poem!
xo
Tincture. Tincture. That's a really good tear pairing. :) I always wish
I could hear you read your poetry. All you poets, in your own voice.
I like this. Right now, today, perfect.
Absolutely beautiful...
Maureen--
I am just now exhaling. Wow. I miss so much at the beginning of the week--my busy days...my soul-weary days.
This is breathtaking.
Maureen, you have such an incredible poetic voice, that first line sings in me - "fear not the rub of ash" - fear not the call to radical transformation.
Beautiful, Maureen.... deeply moving.
Thank you.
Wonderfully done, 'Fear not the rub of ash' is a big big statement, and puts us in mind of that which is yet to come.
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