»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #11
»
Solemnity
| Open Poetry #11 |
|
Solemnity |
|
|
Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware 
|
Solemnity Sometimes through the weight of frequency through the laughter of the jaded something is lost No rubric, none of the rituals we've been through seem more than filling out a 1040 or getting a fishing license But then if we're fortunate God may bless us remind us what commitment means and we see solemn in a ritual again I felt it on a California trip midst icons and triptychs with family candles, oil and prayer What's more amazing all the flashes the whirr of cameras took nothing away God held His place respect maintained It was a tiny church like no other not fundamental not Baptist not Catholic nor traditional Protestant Greek Orthodox robes, beards, incense Reverence was there in abundance my niece and her husband their older son had brought young Matthew to be baptized They'd been married - Episcopal their older son christened there too Because there'd been agreement God would be present Christ ignores sectarian differences but families have traditions and love makes concessions So the font came forward huge, chalice-shaped as prayers and processions moved about the small church holy water poured prayers repeated "Lord have Mercy" and so it happened Matthew was churched, Matthew was oiled - Matthew was immersed in the names of the trinity and shining with holy oil and holy water this new Christian infant stopped crying was proudly showing himself to all assembled We did not leave then Mother and Father committed themselves a second time to one another witnessed in these reverent walls and the pride and love of the groom's father was not outdone by the incandescent lights or the candles I saw the four eyes of bride and groom again as I'd seen them seven years ago still filled with the same love the same faith that brought them here I shed a tear for renewed faith solemnity restored and love Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes. ~ Chinese Proverb ~ |
||
| © Copyright 2001 Wilfred Yeats - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Sunnyone Member Ascendant
since 2000-07-06
Posts 5334Staffordshire, England |
Wilfred.... May I be the first to tell you how wonderful this work is, full of tradition and family love. Thank you for submitting it for these eyes to read. It gives me a sense of peace and wholeness to know that families still exist..........  Write on! -<--<--{(@ |
||
Greeneyes  
since 2000-09-09
Posts 9903In Your Poetic Mind |
I was so touched by this, what a beautiful expression of love for family....wonderful...splendid write dear friend....  Greeneyes~ *** "Within you I lose myself Without you I find myself Wanting to be lost again." -Unknown |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Bill I shed a tear for renewed faith solemnity restored and love So many rituals make up families...all tied together with love, in ribbon that expands and changes, yet stays the same. Wonderful heart in this poem! |
||
|
Daniel J D Senior Member
since 2000-10-01
Posts 1471Hillcrest, Queensland, Australia |
Wilfred, A very moving poem, straight from a good heart. Respond to my call and let the waves of my heart fill your life with the wonders of love (Daniel J D) |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Solemnity is a wonderful thing indeed... This is lovely, Wil..  |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Sweet, solemn tears indeed... beautiful, Mr. Yeats... |
||
|
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Fabulous writing! You've captured it so well! Denise |
||
|
Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware |
In recent years - in a new city - and with a new wife - my faith - while still strong - does not pursue a church with heavily solumn rituals and rubric - Still - memory of solumn high masses with incense, processions, embroidered vestments, and chanted prayers remains with me. What I described, in addition to what I wrote - reminded me - of my former self - and - mostly gave me hope for the faith of mankind for the future Thank you all |
||
Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Wilfred~ You cloaked this in the garments of abiding faith. The reverance of the piece touched me deeply. Thank you for sharing. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
||
|
ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
It's defininely refreshing to realize that some people still have respect for things that are important to the family unit. The trouble with this free enterprise democratic system is the ease with which the family unit can be swept aside for careers and financial or sexual gain.....great work Bill! |
||
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Wilfred? It's been awhile since I've been to church...so I thank you for bringing me there this morning...quite beautiful...and feeds the soul. A wonderful write! |
||
|
Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware |
marge - ethome - serenity - Raised Catholic - a religeon I parted from (you can take the man from ... but you can't take the ... from the man) I've attended Unity (6 years) and now Methodist - I eound my Niece's (Episcopal) marriage to Greek Orthodox - a fascinating blend I think that's why the Baptism/Marriage was so compelling a subject. Thank you very much |
||
|
doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
the first time i got married, it was in the greek orthodox church... an absolutely beautiful ceremony with crowns exchanged (of course, the church didn't gaurantee the marriage would last! LOL) both of my children were christened in the Greek Orthodox church.... it is an absolutely awesome, captivating rite, spiritually charged in every way.... it is almost "timeless", if that makes sense.... (my sister stood up as godmother for my daughter... she had a bit of a tough time not laughing when she had to say, "i spit on satan"... lol... ) anyway... i thought your poem described it wonderfully.... and i thoroughly enjoyed it, especially also because i could identify with it...  |
||
|
Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
This is truly lovely Bill...a wonderful expression of the day you spent amongst your family...thank you so much for sharing this with me... |
||
|
Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware |
Doreen- My first visit to a Greek Church came when an employee of mine was married - I was struck then by the service and remember it still - then of course the intro to greek food - been enamoured of that ever since as well ~G~ - Thank you Paula- It is the solumn that seems to keep us 'grounded' thank you |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
