Sacrament

[PrinceMyshkin]

In the sacrament of life
the highest priests
are the most humble parishioners,
their surplices
the scrofulous, torn rags
handed down to them
by the servants of the rich,
their bread and wine
stale and foetid

when they can get it.

[Virgil]

This is a solid poem Prince, very solid. Actually outstanding. You use of the word "scrofulous" (which I had to look up) right in the center of the poem is very powerful.

[PrinceMyshkin]

This is a solid poem Prince, very solid. Actually outstanding. You use of the word "scrofulous" (which I had to look up) right in the center of the poem is very powerful.

This is especially welcome, coming from you. I was anxious before posting it on the grounds that some Christians, especially RCs, might be offended by it.

Speaking of RCs, did you happen to watch the late Sen. Kennedy's funeral service and the magnificent tribute to him given by his parish priest? I doubt you were in sympathy with Kennedy's politics but, as a person, surely he was one to ennoble all Americans.

[Virgil]

Well, first and foremost is whether it's good poetry. And whether it's fair and honest. I don't think it was a gratuitous shot at Catholicism.

No I didn't see it. I've been out most of the day. Perhaps I'll catch some highlights tonight. I'll make sure I look for it. Thanks.

[AuntShecky]

This is powerful, as many if not most of your pieces are.
Your themes lately tend toward the religious, and I will comment on your piece on atheism in the next couple days.

I guess more than one of us wrote about Sen. Kennedy's funeral today.

[firefangled]

Excellent! I am reminded by this of lines in W. Stevens's The Dove In The Belly:

And the people in costumes,
Though poor, though raggeder than ruin, have that

Within them right for terraces—oh, brave salut!
Deep dove, placate you in your hiddenness.

[DanielBenoit]

Bravo! Again, another compact and powerful poem. Only ten lines!

[PrinceMyshkin]

Bravo! Again, another compact and powerful poem. Only ten lines!

Thank you indeed. 10 lines, to me, is virtually an epic! My record is eight words in three lines:



Birds in adjacent cages
pondering
each other's dreams

This was occasioned on another site where the poster I was responding to was someone I was attracted to but lived too far from. She had used a bird image in her poem. I saw the box containing her poem, and the one I was about to post in, as separate cages.

[qimissung]

So that's where that originated! I knew it was yours, but not how you came to write it. It's one of my favorites.

And this one is most excellent, also, the images are strong and beautiful; the juxtaposition of images just a little shocking, which makes the images all the more arresting.

[blazeofglory]

In the sacrament of life
the highest priests
are the most humble parishioners,
their surplices
the scrofulous, torn rags
handed down to them
by the servants of the rich,
their bread and wine
stale and foetid

when they can get it.


This is really marvelous, and matchless.