Ellen O'Shaughnessy

 

Ginny Enbody

 

Mary Anne Ernst

These flowers are vain. They maintain a dining room table, linoleum floor, or wood floor can't possibly capture the beauty each claims to possess - only a photoshoot outdoors has that potential. I suggest they join a community of sweet wildflowers. Everything is fine until the flower-in-pink claims that a leaf leftover from last Fall detracts from her self-perceived perfection. I apologize to the leaf, and offer thanks for its contribution-by-decomposition to the community. We change location - to a rock whose supportive strength will aid this group of flowers without stems. The flowers pose and smile in sync. I photograph. All is well ... until the flower-in-gold bursts into tears ... he notices that one of his petals is bent. Luckily, the rain drops arrive and convince him that he is still beautiful. Once convinced, we all run indoors to gain shelter from the April shower, and in time to hear Jackson Browne sing: " ... we may lose and we may win but we will never be here again ... take it easy". And so we do

Jean Mudge

 

Claire Bahamon

I’ve been walking in the Fells. Several weeks ago, everything was still brown and gray. Then the resurrection began.  

I. 

Green buds, red ones 

Tips of branches 

Raising up 

To kiss 

The Light 

II. 

Neighbors shattered 

In winter’s storms 

Prone across 

Their branches 

Those still upright 

Supple again 

Bending yawing 

In the breeze

Ellen O'Shaughnessy and Bob Padberg

 

Maire Liberace - Two Poems

THE JOURNEY TO EMMAUS 

We had hoped! 

What dreams we had! 

Now, 

scattered like the dust 

under our feet 

kicked up, 

coating our feet 

our cloaks, 

blown into the wind. 

We trudge home 

slumped 

into the depth 

 of our souls, 

muddied thoughts and images 

spung and faded 

into melancholy regret. 

 And yet this stranger 

brings comfort, 

with a flow 

of words 

images and teachings 

from our past. 

 Now we are back 

 Where we began. 

Stay awhile 

Eat with us. 

And then 

The familiar gesture, 

Bread broken 

Shared! 

 Our eyes were opened 

Our hearts burst 

With joy 

And we knew Him!

“AND ON THE THIRD DAY...” 

the morning was a tomb muffled 

in pre-dawn silence when t

he women scurried through 

the narrow streets 

feeling the cold damp cling 

like unshed tears 

cloaks billowed black on black 

ships rocking at loose anchor 

after raging storms 

 their feet padded soft and rapid 

they clung to shadowed houses 

red stone dark as the dark night 

that bound them in 

the smell of spice and oil shrouded 

their movement up the wooded hill 

incensed the stumbled ascent 

over gnarled roots 

the grasp of low -hung branches 

the first pearl rim of dawn 

circled the horizon as they 

reached the cleared field 

tumbled with rocks 

wary their eyes searched 

through the mist gauzed 

over the gaping hole 

fear softly quivered 

its arrows and held bodies 

still as startled deer 

caught in the light 

of a rising sun that pierced 

the air suddenly filled 

with bursting perfume 

and awakened birdsong

Overview of Saturday's Session

Saturday’s workshop will have three parts: (1.) an Easter morning meditation and our experience of the Resurrection, (2.) reconciling the long-entrenched suffering of our parents and ancestors through the Resurrection, and (3.) Seeing our creativity as a gift from the God who raised Jesus to new life. Breakout groups will follow each section. These will be interspersed with poems of Easter’s triumph.

Gregory Connolly

I thought adding the Cross and only the crown with purple yarn may evoke a loss of the human lord and anticipation of the risen Jesus. What the “collage” poorly expresses is how hard it is to discern miraculous events.

Ginny Enbody

 

Happy Easter!  While working on these projects over the last several months, I've been reminded of the old saying that what u might be looking for is in your own backyard (or house!)

Jesus Christ is Risen Today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isfEFHygbi4 

I'm singing tenor and bass in this favorite Easter tune. The kids are the stars of the international effort.

Elaine Coyne