Category Archives: All Things Catholic

I Am the Gift

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I am the gift
God gives to me,
Mysterious and known,
But to God.
Unfolding like the petals of a rose,
From tightly wound bud,
To glorious blossom,
Unfurled and unfettered,
I move with the wind
And dance with the sun,
Following its course

Across the sky.
I am God’s gracious gift.
He, the grace giver.
May I serve to delight Him,
By the fragrance of my being,
Offering no resistance,
As I incline
To the gentle breeze,
Or bow in storm’s fury.
The gift God gives to me,
I kiss and make return,
One smiling bloom
In God’s splendid bouquet of creation.

©2012 Joann Nelander

Arm in Arm

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Imagine a human sea,
Throng upon throng,
Gathered across Europe,
Arm in arm.

Regard the multitudes,
Witness of flesh,
Standing tall,
Staring down terror and the terrible,
Arm in arm.

A proclamation for peace,
For life, for freedom,
In the aftermath of death,
To face the future,
Arm in arm.

A call to arms:
Arms to embrace,
Arms to hold dear,
Arms to forge,

Arm in arm.

Draw from tragedy’s furnace,

Amidst the sweat and blood,

Humanity’s last hope,

(For need of each other),

Arm in arm.

Joann Nelander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image a human sea,
Throng upon throng,
Gathered across Europe,
Arm in arm.

Regard the multitudes,
Witness of flesh,
Standing tall,
Staring down terror and the terrible,
Arm in arm.

A proclamation for peace,
For life, for freedom,
In the aftermath of death,
To face the future,
Arm in arm.

A call to arms:
Arms to embrace,
Arms to hold dear,
Arms to forge, in heart-felt resolve,
In the furnace of trial, tears and tragedy,
An alliance of hope,
Arm in arm.

Joann Nelander