The Presentation of the Rodent - poem

 

Lawrence Hall

Mhall46184@aol.com

https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/

poeticdrivel.blogspot.com

 

 

The Presentation of the Rodent

 

“The Feast of Candlemas…is perhaps the most ancient festival of Our Lady.”

 

-Missale Romanum

 

The Catholic funeral home calendar

Prints “GROUNDHOG DAY (USA)” in generous type

“The Presentation of the Lord,” well, not so much

And “                                ” ¹ not at all

 

Perhaps one day we faithful will look out

From our dark-tunneled burrows of lost time

And gaze upon the morning shadows to ask

If there will be 2,000 more years of civilization

 

Because in the Temple

 

Our Lady presents unto our Lord the Child

But we present unto ourselves - a rat

 

 

 

¹ The Purification of Our Lady

 

Saint Blaise - poem

Lawrence Hall
Mhall46184@aol.com

Saint Blaise

Waiting in line to have body parts blessed
Is probably a good idea, and throats
Are more accessible than pancreases
(Or are they pancreai?). A brain-blessing

Might be an even better idea, although
A small priest could not, would not reach so high
Hands, shoulders, elbows, noses, ear lobes too
So in the end (but blessing that might be

Entirely inappropriate) you see

Even so

Let us be blessed in all humility

Candlemas - poem

Lawrence Hall
Mhall46184@aol.com

Candlemas

Let Candlemas cheer our late winter days -
The Presentation of Our Lord as Child
In the Temple according to ancient ways
When Simeon prophesied and Anna smiled

Let us present ourselves, candles alight
For we are waiting in the Temple too
This joyful mystery, this sacred rite
In hope, in peace, in love, in witness true

Simeon blesses us all, and Anna prays -
Let Candlemas cheer these late winter days