Friday, January 24, 2014<\/p>\n
Some friends live in Stockholm, a lot closer to the Arctic Circle than we are in Motown; both cities have cold snaps today. We have 2 hours and 12 minutes more daylight than they. My friends pay attention to interior lighting — patches of sharp bright light placed to contrast with dim light elsewhere. Surprising how refreshing that can be on long winter nights.<\/p>\n
About today’s poem: I got talking with a fellow UDM employee two days ago and the topic of angels came up. I told her\/him that my niece, Terri, has occasionally written about her grandmother’s passion for guardian angels. Here’s one: flint-hard, unblinking, fierce intergenerational love: grandmother sending prayers and angels; granddaughter “without any gods”; both full of tenderness.<\/p>\n
Have a good weekend. Bundle up in the wind gusts.<\/p>\n
john st sj<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–THE PENWOOD REVIEW
\nPublished, Fall 1998<\/p>\n
Prayers That Mean Something<\/p>\n
Grandmother loans out guardian angels.
\nShe is generous with them, always
\nhas an extra. I suppose she\u2019s been
\ncollecting them, maybe inheriting them,
\none every five years or so,
\nfrom loved ones gone.<\/p>\n
If my need is truly great, she sends two or three, or
\none of her best, my grandfather\u2019s
\nor her own. She
\ngrips my hand, without
\nfragility, tells me,
\n\u201cYou are good\u201d and
\nit means just that.<\/p>\n
When Grandmother says she\u2019ll pray for something,
\nit is wise to have faith. For her,
\neven wishbone wishes come true.<\/p>\n
Her prayers are long,
\ninclude every grandchild by name.
\nShe prays, \u201cDear Lord, for what is best…\u201d
\nand it is not less to be one
\nof so many grandchildren, for
\nher prayers have strength.<\/p>\n
And she prays,
\n\u201cDear God, thank you that I still am able,\u201d as
\nshe hangs wet clothing between
\ntwo trees older than she, but
\nless gnarled.<\/p>\n
And I, without any gods, pray too, pray, dear god dear
\ngod, dear
\nthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou<\/p>\n
that she still is able.<\/p>\n
Terri Breeden<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Friday, January 24, 2014 Some friends live in Stockholm, a lot closer to the Arctic Circle than we are in Motown; both cities have cold snaps today. We have 2 hours and 12 minutes more daylight than they. My friends … Continue reading