Origami crow

It is my beloved's birthday. He is sleeping in because that is one of his favorite things to do. I am grateful I bought his birthday present in March, before all Hell broke loose. He is a particular fan of crows. All birds really. But crows in particular, This is part of his present as well. One I can still give in the aftermath of Hell appearing.

I want to get back

To writing every day

Somehow

Writing every day.

It doesn’t quite matter

What I say.

Today is the birthday

Of my beloved

I bought his present

Before all Hell

Broke loose.

Did I know something?

I lie in the rented hospital bed

With his present

Displayed on the bookshelf

In front of me

An origami crow

Made of recycled barbecue grills

Found on Brighton Beach

Even though we vowed

Not to collect any more

Things

At this stage in our lives.

How could I resist

An origami crow

Made

From recycled barbecue grills

Collected on Brighton Beach?

I bought it and gave it

Before

All Hell broke loose.

Did I know something?

Bits and pieces

Waiting.

I did bits and pieces

Of Holy Week

This year

Following

Bits and pieces of Lent

Before that.

Now is the time

To sit in silence

While Jesus is off

Emptying Hell

Before he returns

Tomorrow

In splendor.

Bits and pieces were enough

This year.

And now

And now

I wait.

Hell in a handbasket

Reflections on Hell.

I never quite knew the meaning

Of this saying

Before.

Now it seems to apply.

I join the company,

The throng,

The whole kit and caboodle.

Come to think of it

I don’t know

Where this comes from

Either.

Handbasket.

Caboodle.

Good words to describe

The indescribable.

Then there’s Hell

That unknown place

Some people may choose

To go

Even though the travel brochure

Says

It may not really exist.

It’s not a place.

It’s Godless space.

It seems the only way to go there

Is in a handbasket

Whatever that is.

Holy Saturday 2015

So like Him.

On this beautiful blue day

They say

Jesus is down

Evacuating Hell.

What’s the Son of Man to do?

Twiddle his thumbs?

Maybe

Play Gin Rummy,

Or even

Go Fish

With the Heavenly Host?

What’s a guy to do

With this free Saturday

Like no other Saturday

This free blue beautiful day?

So like Him

To throw open

The gates of Hell,

Invite absolutely everyone

To the Resurrection Party

Tomorrow.

As long as it takes

A prayer, I think.  Yes, a prayer.  We still wait... as long as it takes.  Amen.

As long as it takes,

I will not count.

I promise

Not to count.

As long as it takes,

Even if forever is multiplied

By forever.

As long as it takes

Until lion and lamb

Sleep together.

As long as it takes,

Until Hell freezes over

And everyone is gifted

With ice skates,

The ability

To do figure 8s.

As long as it takes

For the Kingdom to come.

I will not count.

I promise not to count.

As long as it takes.

Amen.

The dreams were grateful

Holy Saturday.  One of my favorite days of the year.  Love covers a multitude of sins.  Peter reminds us of this in the liturgy this morning.  Jesus is out emptying hell, even my private hell, even your private hell, breaking open hearts.  Jesus is out covering a multitude of sins.

The dreams were grateful 

I slept in 

This morning.

They supplied interesting things

To keep me in bed,

Add an hour or two

To the usual eight or nine.

The morning is bright

With sun.

Jesus is out

Harrowing Hell

Opening hearts to possibilities

Unknown

Unforeseen

Up until now.

The dreams were grateful

To add more sleep

To the picture.

Now my heart considers

The possibilities

For the rest of the day

And beyond.