Lenten Poetry: Day 27

One Out Of Ten

There was one
who said "Thank you!"
One out of ten...
and Jesus asked:
What happened
to the other nine?
Blessings on that one
who taught us
how to worship.

--Ann Weems

Lenten Poetry: Day 26

Our Dreams

Sometimes the pages won't turn
in our book of dreams,
and we are left clinging to a life
we never lived...
just wanted to.
Stuck in the stark reality
of unlived dreams,
we sniffle and tread water,
on we go in search
of the Holy Ones
who will wipe the tears
from our eyes
and offer to us
the only dream
that lives.

--Ann Weems

Lenten Poetry: Day 25

Witness

"I am a Christian," one once said to me.
He said it loudly.
I watched and said:
"I shall not be."

--Ann Weems

Lenten Poetry: Day 24

Walking Through Friday

The gift of myrrh
went from manger to cross.
Mary and Joseph said
thank you to the kings,
but Jesus, on the cross,
when offered wine with myrrh,
said no.
There are times when we, too,
must go heartlong into our pain,
knowing it's the only way
we will get to Easter living.

--Ann Weems

Lenten Poetry: Day 23

We Pray This Day

O God, we pray this day:

for all who have a song they cannot sing,

for all who have a burden they cannot bear,

for all who live in chains they cannot break,

for all who wander homeless and cannot return,

for those who are sick and for those who tend them,

for those who wait for loved ones and wait in vain,

for those who live in hunger and for those who will not share their bread,

for those who are misunderstood and for those who misunderstand,

for those who are captives and for those who are captors,

for those whose words of love are locked within their hearts and for those who yearn to hear those words.

Have mercy upon these, O God.

Have mercy upon us all.

--Ann Weems

Lenten Poetry: Day 22

Heavenly Nightmare

It is my recurring nightmare
that heaven will be organized,
that some Martha will get there
before I do and will be happily
buzzing about
straightening clouds,
ironing angels' gowns,
starching wing tips,
buffing stars,
and getting ready for the
big hymn sing in the sky.
The nightmare is over
before anyone calls a meeting
and asks me to take minutes.
I'm filled with eternal gratitude...

--Ann Weems

Lenten Poetry: Day 21

Come Unto Me

When the journey gets too hard,
when we feel depleted,
when our compassion
turns to complaining,
when our efforts toward
justice and mercy
seem to get us nowhere,
it's time to remember the humility part --
that it is God who has made us
and not we ourselves;
that the saving of the world
or even one part of it
is not on our shoulders.
It is then we can come unto him,
and he will give us rest.
With rest we'll remember
what it is we are about.

--Ann Weems