A
Maryknoll Book
of
Poetry
BEAUTY, TRUTH, AND GOODNESS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Michael Leach, Doris Goodnough, and Helen Phillips, MM,
editors
ORBIS
BOOKS
Maryknoll, New York 10545
Founded in 1970, Orbis Books endeavors to publish works that enlighten the mind,
nourish the spirit, and challenge the conscience. The publishing arm of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Orbis seeks to explore the global dimensions of the Christian faith and mission, to invite dialogue with diverse cultures and religious traditions, and to serve the cause of reconciliation and peace. The books published reflect
the views of their authors and do not represent the official position of the Maryknoll
Society. To learn more about Maryknoll and Orbis Books, please visit our website at
www.maryknollsociety.org.
Copyright © 2014 by Orbis Books
Published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York 10545-0302.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
All rights reserved.
“Interbeing” and “Journey” reprinted from Call Me by My True Names: The Collected
Poems of Thich Nhat Hanh (1999) by Thich Nhat Hanh with permission of Parallax
Press, Berkeley, California, www.parallax.org.
“God of My Childhood” reprinted from The Singer & the Song by Miriam Therese
Winter © 1990 by Medical Mission Sisters. “Quantum Leap” reprinted from Paradoxology by Miriam Therese Winter © 2009 by Medical Mission Sisters.
“Roots” by Wandera-Chagenda reprinted from African Christian Spirituality by Aylward Shorter with permission of Aylward Shorter.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the
publisher.
Queries regarding rights and permissions should be addressed to:
Orbis Books, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, New York 10545-0302.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A Maryknoll book of poetry : beauty, truth, and goodness from around the world /
Michael Leach, Doris Goodnough, and Helen Phillips, MM, editors.
pages cm
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-62698-072-3 (pbk.)
1. Religious poetry. 2. Spiritual life—Poetry. 3. Religious poetry—
Translations into English. I. Leach, Michael, 1940- editor of compilation. II.
Goodnough, Doris, editor of compilation. III. Phillips, Helen, MM, editor of
compilation.
PN6110.R4M34 2014
808.81’9382—dc23
2013037320
Contents
Preface
Water, My Sister Water
Dom Helder Camara
parable
Gerald M. Wickenhauser, MM
xv
1
4
Kids of La Prensa
Ernesto Cardenal
5
Interbeing
Thich Nhat Hanh
8
the oh-so-leveling subway
Helen Phillips, MM
9
He Needs You
Dorothee Soelle
12
Within the Paradox of Pain and Ecstasy
Martin Shea, MM
14
To the Edge
Elizabeth Terbrock, MM
15
How the Word Made Flesh Seeks the Salvation of All
John Shea
16
A Slip of Rain
Joyce Rupp
18
God of My Childhood
Miriam Therese Winter
19
The Banana Leaf
Jean Fallon, MM
21
vii
A M A RY K N O L L B O O K
OF
P O E T RY
Grace That Suffuses Everything
Thomas A. Forsthoefel
22
All White
Michael Downey
24
Love’s Voice
Al Drinkwine
25
Waiting
Noel Devine, MM
27
Awakening
Paula D’Arcy
28
Prayer Grows a Body
Deirdre Cornell
29
I Followed Where My Master Led
Richard L. Clifford, MM
31
Mother of God Similar to Fire
Mirabai Starr
33
Honoring the Void
Joseph R. Veneroso, MM
34
The Perfect Rock
Mary Ryan-Hotchkiss
36
Our Lord, Our God, Our World
Marlene Silk
37
Communion
Margaret Swedish
38
If Ever
Julia D. E. Prinz, VDMF
41
I Hand It All to You
Gerard Thomas Straub
42
viii
Contents
Love Is
Gabriela Romeri
44
Late Afternoon
Elizabeth V. Roach, MM
46
Zen Poem
Daniel Berrigan, SJ
48
“Ave”
Carolyn Moritz, MM
52
Thanksgiving Song
David Steindl-Rast
53
A Case for Utopia
Peter Maurin
55
Just One More Time
Joan Chittister
56
Full Moon
Patrice Van Hyle
58
The Women in Post-Resurrection Space
Diarmuid O’Murchu
59
Quantum Leap
Miriam Therese Winter
61
A Splash of Sunshine
Robert F. Morneau
63
A Cosmic Caress
Jean Pruitt, MM
64
Cook County Hospital
Michael Leach
65
Treasure Tucked in Mark
Kathy Coffey
67
ix
A M A RY K N O L L B O O K
OF
P O E T RY
The Unexpected Visitor
Catherine Ryan, MM
68
An Employee Remembers the Men of Maryknoll
Geralyn Lynch
70
If I Were
Wendy M. Wright
72
Journey
Thich Nhat Hanh
73
“Roots”
Wandera-Chagenda
74
A Poem of African Paradox (in Haiku Style)
Joseph G. Healey, MM
76
Burnt Garbage
Beth Gylys
77
Winter Silence
Helen Phillips, MM
78
Another Cathedral
Edwina Gateley
79
Questions to a Tree Growing Out of the Rock
Irene Pena Cervantes
82
Blind Faith
Monique Cerundolo
83
The Silence of the Night
Margo Cambier, MKLM
85
At Midnight
Susan Carpenter
86
They Came Walking, Walking
Joseph G. Healey, MM
88
x
Contents
Grand Canyon
Kevin F. Burke, SJ
90
The Word Painter
Richard A. Aylward, MM
91
The Road That Lies Ahead
David Agosta
92
No Mistake at All
Mary Lou Kownacki
93
Service
Annemarie S. Kidder
94
I Am
95
Maria Margarita Jamias, MM
I Give Back to You
Edwina Gateley
96
Common Ground
Ann Hayden, MM
99
Mission
Bertha Haas
100
I Am With You Always
John K. Halbert, MM
101
Flight
102
Janice McLaughlin, MM
Silence...But Is It Really Silent?
Irene Pena Cervantes
103
A Prayer for Families
Joseph R. Veneroso, MM
104
The Pulse
Santa Orlando
106
xi
A M A RY K N O L L B O O K
OF
P O E T RY
Death. Where Am I Now?
Michael Morwood
107
Diversity, Cosmic Splendor
Jean Pruitt, MM
109
A Subversive Wedding
Diarmuid O’Murchu
110
The Tempest
Sandra Mattucci
111
Achilles in Hades
William J. O’Malley, SJ
114
Eucharist Is a Verb
Richard G. Malloy, SJ
115
We Die Standing Up
Carolyn Moritz, MM
117
We Believe
Staughton and Alice Lynd
118
Becoming Eucharist
James H. Kroeger, MM
120
God in All Forms . . .
Rosalind Bradley
122
So You Think That
Dom Helder Camara
124
Come, Holy Spirit
Carlo Carretto
125
Child Transformed
Bibiana Bunuan, MM
127
The Communion Line
Kathy Coffey
129
xii
Contents
After the Letting Go
Paula D’Arcy
132
An Honorable Shelter
Julia Hannigan, MM
134
What I Found in the Dump
Martin Shea, MM
135
Hymn
William J. O’Malley, SJ
137
Arequipa’s Lady Farmer
Teresita Perez, MM
138
Poem of African Paradox (in Haiku Style)
Joseph G. Healey, MM
140
Beati Pacifici
(An Independence Day Prayer)
Kerry Walters
141
Babylon the Great
Alice Camille
143
The Kingdom of Heaven
Sheila Cassidy
144
A Piece of Light
Joyce Rupp
147
Ugali
149
Bill Murphy
The Christ of Maryknoll
Michael Leach
151
Author Index
152
xiii