the priest
pours a few drops
of holy water
from the cruet
mixes it with the ash
the season of sadness begins
lent mingled with autumn
every year it is the same
that sinking feeling
feelings churned up
like ocean froth
the end of summer
the call of the north
ancestors banging in my ears
the wonderful gasp of hope
easter on the horizon
always glorious in blue sky
to match the momentous occasion
and will i
will i ever have the guts
to wear this black smudge
on my forehead all day long
I was particularly pleased that you reminded me that in your half of the globe this is autumn instead of spring! We often forget that all the world is not like where we are!! Good take on the prompt--the cruet of holy water! Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteGreat images that really capture the feeling of the season and heart.
ReplyDeletemmm nice...on the wearing the smudge even just for a day...
ReplyDeletewe march on toward the next season...to rebirth/to new life
to easter...and remember it must get darkest before the light.
Yes, indeed gives an opposite perspective than we have here. Lent always leads to spring here, toward optimism.... rather than to autumn and cooler weather. This would definitely give a different feeling to Easter for me. I like what you did with the prompt.
ReplyDeleteYour poem made me wonder how different it would be to celebrate Easter in autumn.
ReplyDeleteWonderful imagery in keeping with what the season offers! Nicely Rallentanda!
ReplyDeleteHank
nice I loved your poem
ReplyDeleteWonderful.
ReplyDeletelove the 4th verse! Happy Soon to be Easter!
ReplyDeleteEaster - and the symbolism is has with rebirth and spring - does feel like a wonderful gasp of hope - doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteWow. Christmas in Spring and Easter in Autumn... I wonder if I could ever get use to that?
ReplyDeleteI remember my Catholic friends having ashes on their foreheads all day in high school. Don't see as much of that now.
For many, many years I wore that black smudge all day, until I washed my face before bed. Long story why I no longer do ... maybe I will write about it one day. Your poem is lovely.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written and raises many questions about ourselves, religion, society and courage to do what we think is right despite opposition, derision and disdain from others.
ReplyDelete