Child

Child

I would hold you close

In my arms

As you grieve your loss

Mother     Father     Siblings

Your family     your home

Witnessing scenes

No child should have to see

No one should have to see

If I could     Child

I would erase these pictures

From your mind

Your mind’s hauntings

Spilling into your dreamworld

 

Child

You are every child

To me

Who has suffered cruelties

Of war

Cruelties from greed

Cruelties from those who use their power

To take what does not belong

To them

Child     if I could

I would explain such behavior

To help you understand

I cannot

For I do not understand

Never will     never will

Myself

But Child     this I do know

With certainty

Love is the Healer

And I Love you

 

The Innocents

I open wide

A special door

To a special room

In my heart

For children

I do not know

But whom I love

Children abused

Abandoned

Ones made to

Disappear

Children caught

In war

Innocents maimed

Innocents dying

Bless their souls

Oh bless them

 

They are like a field

Of flowers

Scattered in the wind

Some survive

To grow again

Others never return

Leaving their presence

Their beauty

To remain in my

Mind

Live in my heart

Never

To forget them

—2011

After St. Francis — Prayer of Peace

th

Lord

I too ask

Make me an Instrument of Your

Peace

I too would sow love

Where there is hatred

Anger

Where intolerance

Lurks

Where doubt keeps some

Awake

In night’s darkest

Hours

I would sow Faith

Where despair brings some

To their knees

I would sow Hope

 

Oh Lord

I will do my best

For those who are inconsolable

To lead them to You

To be consoled

To ask my spirit for understanding

So that I understand in depth

Their need for understanding

Above all

To love unconditionally

Al Your children     everywhere

No exceptions

And not ask to be loved

Myself               Amen

 

Save

To Live in Blessed Peace

syria_landing_02

Little Child

Held tight in your father’s arms

I want to cry

For you

You do not cry

So I will not

Either

Tho your face expresses how

Frightened you are

Your eyes of deep brown

Look sad to my eyes

That see you in a line

Of refugees

Hurrying to where

I don’t know

Germany     perhaps England

Maybe France

You flee your homeland

Syria

And little child

Little boy

As you are held

In your father’s arms

So I hold you

In my heart

Hold you with a vision

Of a new life for you

A life free from fear

A place for you to

Play

As children are meant to play

Grow

As children are meant to grow

A place that in my

Vision

Is every place on earth

Where all children

Of God     of All That Is

No matter who they are

No matter where they come

From

Live in Blessed Peace

*photo credit, UNICEF

Children of the World

Guardian Angel, by Janop

This is the time

This is Now

To gather the children

Of the world

Into my heart

No matter

Who they are

No matter

Where they are

No matter

Colors of their skin

No matter

They be wise

No matter

Be they slow

They live inside

Me

With the Light

With the love

Of the Divine

 

Who gives the bounty

Mother Earth provides

Us all

But     Oh Divine Creator

There are children

In our world

Many children

Who live with empty

Bellies

Hollow eyes

Parasites in their

Guts

From dirty water

They drink

Bathe in

There are children

Many children

Around the world

Who know the terror

Of a mass shooting

The terror of war

Bombs     gunfire

People around them

Dying

Mothers     fathers

Siblings     schoolmates

Their minds     their dreams

Clogged with the

Memory

Of rape     pillaging     killing

 

Divine Creator

I call to you

Hear me

Help us stop it

Help us stop it

Help us save

Our children

Hear me

 

I bless them

Cherish them

Love them

 

This is the time

Now

 

Thank you     thank you     thank you

Amen