Greetings, Poetry Lovers - Got your eclipse glasses? :0)
In 2017, I only lived an hour from the path of totality, so I drove through the rain (optimist at heart) to find a spot along the backroads and experience those few moments of wonder. I really want to experience that again, but it would be a full-on trip this year, and I can't make the time work next week, plus there's the 9-month-old handful of adolescent pup.... But I bought my family eclipse glasses anyway, for the partial experience. (The weather folks are predicting clouds. Shhh!) Best wishes for good viewing for those of you in the narrow path!
Seems like a good time to revisit these words from 800 or so years ago. (Here's the link I used. I'm traveling and can't figure out how to make hyper links with my little tablet:
https://franciscanfriarscresson.org/the-canticle-of-the-sun/)
The Canticle of the Sun
St. Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures;
especially Brother Sun, who is the day, and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
and bears a likeness to You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene,
and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night;
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.
Amen.
Our lovely and oh-so-talented Irene is rounding us up this week:
https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2024/04/community-poetry-projects-because.html
Thanks, Irene! She's also hosting the Progressive Poem. I'm just now catching up with it, and wouldn't you know it? Sister Moon is shining in one of the verses.
Here's to all your stars aligning this month.... xo