Old year passes,
Becoming yet another ghost,
Withered as leaves,
Crumbled, and carried aloft
By winter winds,
Too soon scattered
By the breezes of Time.Is it truly spent,
Dead and long forgotten,
Living but in memory?
May not reflection
Call it from the grave,
Uncover the gain
Hold it fast
To live again?How has its many waters
Blessed thee and me,
As sacred signs?
Will it, as muse, retain a power
For its having been,
And then no more?What saints and angels
Sent my way,
Colored its day?
In sorrow,
Who came to hold my hand?
In joy,
Who shared my hearth?Were there hugs, and smiles,
And laughter to tilt the scale of grief?
Can kisses and embraces be resurrected,
That fires of love be stoked
To warm and blaze anew?Has my thanksgivings
Been recorded in the pyre,
Written in the embers now glowing
As tiger eyes flashing from the ash.Years come, doomed , too soon to go,
But let them not hurry
To a crypt without a wake.
Drink the happy wine of memory,
Sip, as the seasons turn.
Contemplate and savor
The seasons of your soul.©2011 Joann Nelander
Archive for December, 2011
Remembering the Seasons of My Soul
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Faith, Prayer & Prose, Religion with tags grave, grief, joy, memories, New Year, Rejoicing, remember, remembrance, sorrow, time on December 31, 2011 by JoannaObedience
Posted in My Journal with tags Christ, God Son, Jesus, love, Mary, Saint Joseph, St. Joseph, The Way on December 30, 2011 by JoannaToday the Church sings, “Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who was obedient to Mary and Joseph.”
My heart is singing , too, for as these words entered my soul, up sprang joy. Here within me was the path Jesus walked as He began life on Earth as the God Man. How can I not follow Him, as I prepare for a brand new year. The Way shows me, in my infancy, His Way. He turns my heart to Mary and Joseph, giving me the gift of loving parents to watch over me, to protect me, and to be all supplication on my behalf.
My happy resolve is to fix my eyes upon them and listen for their voices reverberating within me. My joyful way throughout the New Year will be to obey in imitation of my Christ and King. “Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who was obedient to Mary and Joseph.”
Forget Not
Posted in Art, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Faith with tags Born again (Christianity), Catholic, Christ, Christian, Faith, Lord, love, Poetry on December 30, 2011 by JoannaAs I walk in Your house,
May I never forget You are Master,
Lord of this domain.
May my thoughts
Spring as fruit upon the vine.
Sustain me, O my Beloved,
With the Bread of angels.
Hallowed Ground of my New Birth,
Give me Your heavenly Water,
That I may never thirst again.
Let it rise within me,
As an eternal spring,
And let it fall from heaven,
Like those “torrents
In the southern desert,”
Sheltered in Your arms,
Covered by the corner of Your mantle,
Fed by the Manna of Your Heavenly Body,
Who could forget to sing You songs of Love?
Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander
Clinging
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Poetry, Prose & Prayer, Religion, Spiritual with tags Almighty, bond, cling, devil, God, love, poem, tempter on December 28, 2011 by JoannaClinging, clinging to You,
As a leaf clasping the vine
With mouth pressed
And soul hungry,
Receiving in its will
Sustenance and vigor.
Stress, season, time,
And the tempters three,
World, Devil and fleshy me,
Turn, test and try resolve.
Clinging, I cling,
Clasping fast,
For only the glue of love
Suffice as bond,
To quell and conquer,
The wanton, the unruly.
For the Conqueror abides in me,
I cling to the Almighty Three.
Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander
Now
Posted in Advent, Catholic, Christian with tags presence, Present, time on December 24, 2011 by JoannaLong Now,
Time unending,
Enduring immediacy,
Poorly perceived.
©2011 Joann Nelander
Posted in My Journal on December 23, 2011 by Joanna
Magdalene, O Magdalene,
With you in the wilderness of sin,
Together, we rejoice.
As sisters, embracing.
Dawn rose as the sun
Hope entered our lives with our Savior
Sinister evil fled at His Presence
In our souls.
Jesus, Son of God,
Son of Man,
Freed us of all gods,
Loosed all obsession.
Magdalene, O Magdalene
Cry out with me,
Emmanuel, God with us.
by Joann Nelander
Kalamazoo Wonderland
Posted in My Journal on December 23, 2011 by JoannaChristmas Decorations…. from PapaJohn on Vimeo.
Time to Feel Good!
Posted in My Journal with tags dancing, feel good, horse, Video on December 22, 2011 by JoannaWhen I need a pick-me-up I watch this:
Haiku
Posted in My Journal on December 21, 2011 by JoannaTiny dancers flight,
Wind blown snow, pirouetting,
Tumbling, now, to rest.
©2011 Joann Nelander
Advent – Prayer in Waiting
Posted in My Journal with tags Advent, Catholic, Christian, Christmas, food. desert place, stable, Straw on December 21, 2011 by JoannaAdvent is upon my soul.
Divine gift of season,
I listen for the cry of a First Born Son,
Begotten before Time begun,
And enfleshed in the Virgin’s womb.
I come to her,
Who is the Ark,
Your Mercy Seat.
Kneeling beside her,
In these pregnant moments,
I lay my head upon her lap.
Her wonderment, and awe,
In steadfast contemplation,
Inspire angels’ songs.
I hear their reverent voices
In my night.
Their chorus bids me come.
Come to the stable of simplicity.
Leave the noisy city for a deserted place,
The Wilderness, whose hidden way
Leads to the waiting manger,
Now, in expectant readiness,
For the Food, that will feed
The hungry world.
My Advent prayer,
Come, O Holy Infant!
Come to my straw
©2010 Joann Nelander
Babe of All Perfection
Posted in My Journal with tags Babe, heart song, Jesus, Mother Mary, mother's gaze, perfection on December 21, 2011 by JoannaO happy Babe!
Babe of All Perfection,
Your little heart, so full of love,
Your face radiant,
Reflected in Your mother’s gaze.
Your soul, ablaze!
Hearth of longing and compassion,
The Family of Nations comes to adore You
©2011 Joann Nelander
Blossom in the Desert
Posted in My Journal with tags Advent, Catholic, Christian, Christmas, creation, Eucharist, Faith, Fiat, hope, Hope of the Nations, Mary, poem, Praise, seasonal, thanksgiving, the Word, Virgin on December 21, 2011 by JoannaSad the plight of Man,
Mourning the lose of Paradise.
Captive to cowardice,
Hiding from his God.
Cast out, betraying,
And accusing one another,
Empty of grace, forlorn.
One garden of hope remains.
One paradise,
Ready for the Spring.
One immaculate heaven on earth.
O Virgin, say but the Word,
And your “Fiat”
Will blossom forth in Faith,
Rarity of your virginal ground.
Immaculate fecundity,
Queen Mother, Desert Willow,
New Eve, bearer of New Adam,
With new creation, rejoicing.
Voicing all thanksgiving,
A Eucharist for the sons and daughters of God.
© 2011 Joann Nelander
Well of Sorrows
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Faith with tags bride, bride groom, Eternity, Faith, joy, kingdom, Poetry, splendor, tears, wedding garments on December 16, 2011 by JoannaYou behold my inner groaning.
You grieve within me.
Low pitched moaning
Stir my depths,
Awaiting promised vindication.
No eye, but Yours,
Beholds the river of unspent tears,
Hidden from the world of Men.
Prayer without ceasing
Issues forth
For Your ears only.
Words without sound
Shape my inner being
Fashioning a future full of bliss.
Hope of hallowed blessing,
Worthy of a king,
Yet reserved for but a slave.
O hidden well of sorrow
Dare always hope.
Here comes in triumph and thanksgiving,
The dawn of Day Spring
And Morning Star.
Not yet,
But always present.
In Faith, believing.
The Time of the Bridegroom
Coming to claim His Bride,
Robed now in wedding garments,
Washed resplendent
By crystalline waters.
Purified eyes of soul’s desire,
Embrace the eternal Son as His Beloved.
Well of sorrow,
House of Clay,
Delight now appearing
Open unto Eternity
The door of unending Joy
Hearts beating now as One.
Thy Kingdom come.
© 2011 Joann Nelander
Yesterday
Posted in My Journal with tags Comfort, garden gate, home, Poetry, secure, security, Yesterday on December 16, 2011 by JoannaYesterday I was a child
My world stopped at the garden gate.
You were presence, comfort,
And promise of tomorrow.
© 2011 Joann Nelander
New Day Dawning
Posted in Advent, Art, Catholic, Christian, Faith, Holy Spirit, Poetry, Prose & Prayer, Religion with tags Catholic, Christian, Faith, Morning Star, Poetry, Sabbath on December 16, 2011 by JoannaO Lord, I have no doubt
Of Faith’s fulfillment.
I no longer ask "when,"
For passing days,
But flavor and add splendor,
To my Sabbath Rest,
My dream of Love unending.
If weary of this wasteland
Spring returns with leaf and bud.
Birds’ refrain and cricket chirp
Pull back the curtain,
Time and Sin descended,
To light on promise
Dawning of New Day.
Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander
Be Ready for the Infant King
Posted in Art, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Faith, Mary, Poetry, Religion, Spirituality, Tradition with tags Babe, Christ, christianity, Christmas, holidays, Jerusalem, messiah, Opinions on December 15, 2011 by Joanna
- The Holy Night by Carlo Maratta
Who will come to the stable
On Christmas Day?
And what will they take away?
Wise men, steadfast and earnest, came,
Instead of palace music,
They heard the donkey brae.
A lowly sound and sight,
Yet their wonder unallayed.
Many come rejoicing,
To behold the Newborn King,
Bowing low,
While angels sing.
Christ comes for all
But not all come.
Some come, behold, then fall away,
Being rootless, they merrily go their way.
Father God prepared a voice
To announce His Only Word,
A messenger, born before, to go before.
Another child, spared Ramah’s plight
To live and pierce Sin’s long night
John, O, John, still cries, “Repent!”
Prepare if you would follow.
At Jerusalem’s Gate,
Many cried, “Messiah,”
Who would soon cry, “Crucify.”
Whose will will you do,
When the music fades in life?
Pride prides itself on ‘my way,’
Confounds with will and strife.
Without a ready, willing heart,
Nothing changes Christmas Day.
Corrupt hearts go on corrupting,
All the while the kingly Infant cries,
As throughout His life,
“I am the Way.”
Whose heart will live in yours
As angelic songs fade away.
Will you simply leave the stable
To follow your own way?
Come, O come, rejoicing!
Praying for a change.
Receive the Babe within your Heart.
Beg Him forever stay.
©2010 Joann Nelander
Walking in the Fire
Posted in My Journal with tags Advent, Art, fire, God, Jesus, Joann Nelander, passion, purification on December 14, 2011 by Joanna“They walked about in the flames singing to God.”
My will is to sing to You,
To walk in Your fire.
Your love is a mighty flame,
Alive with its purifying blaze.
Help me be as You are,
Pleasing in Your obedience.
© 2011 Joann Nelander
Thanksgiving Kiss
Posted in My Journal with tags Art, Babe, God, Joann Nelander, mercy, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality on December 13, 2011 by Joanna
O, Mary, thank you for Your Child.
See my empty arms.
See my open heart.
Place your Treasure
In my embrace.
He smiles at me,
As I push aside His swaddling,
To gaze in awe
On the Babe of my redemption.
Mystery of mysteries,
Mercy of God,
You’ve come to me.
You’ve come for me
I dare a kiss on Your sweet brow,
My Emmanuel.
© 2011 Joann Nelander
Consolation of Eve
Posted in Advent, Art, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Faith, Mary, Mother of God, Religion, Spirituality with tags Adam, Advent, Christ, Eve, Gaudete, good news, Holy Child, Jesus, Poetry, rejoice, Religion and Spirituality, Virgin, Virgin Mary on December 13, 2011 by Joanna
Crayon and pencil by Sr. Grace Remington, OCSO Copyright 2005, Sisters of the Mississippi Abbey
Mother Eve, waiting long,
Your bones resting in the earth,
At Adam’s side,
From which you were taken,
Waiting, waiting for the Woman.
Sustained in weary life by a Promise.
Enduring the grave,
Counting the centuries,
Waiting for Good News.
The Virgin is with Child. Rejoice!
©2011 Joann Nelander All rights reserved
