Friday, April 1 – “Fill your lungs . . with the air . . this new . . morning brings”
Another good friend sent me a poem written by a poet I’d not heard of before. The poem is located in the Christian faith tradition that I share with many, but not all my soul friends. A moment at dawn when a few women risk hurrying through a dark and hostile city to care for the dead body. Love and loss, not enthusiasm, coming to keep vigil with spare expectations. In the tradition’s Easter writings, Jesus risen is shocking before it is joyful.
My friend told me she thought I would like it. She was right. A fine song for a morning in the Easter Season. Try reading with some pauses, out loud.
Enjoy the day. Blessings on your weekend.
john sj
Today’s Post “Risen” — “For Easter Day”
If you are looking
for a blessing,
do not linger
here.
Here
is only
emptiness,
a hollow,
a husk
where a blessing
used to be.
This blessing
was not content
in its confinement.
It could not abide
its isolation,
the unrelenting silence,
the pressing stench
of death.
So if it is
a blessing
you seek,
open your own
mouth.
Fill your lungs
with the air
this new
morning brings
and then
release it
with a cry.
Hear how the blessing
breaks forth
in your own voice,
how your own lips
form every word
you never dreamed
to say.
See how the blessing
circles back again,
wanting you to
repeat it,
but louder,
how it draws you,
pulls you,
sends you
to proclaim
its only word:
Risen.
Risen.
Risen.
—> “© Jan Richardson. janrichardson.com.”