Poetry
Jackie’s artistic talents have also found expression in her poetry. To quote Phyllis Klein: “Poetry gives rhythm to silence, light to darkness. In poetry we find the magic of metaphor, compactness of expression, use of the five senses, and simplicity or complexity of meaning in a few lines.” Through this poetry reveals much about the inner life of the person who creates the poems.
In this chapter I will publish a small selection of Jackie’s poems, with some of her line drawings on the side.
Celebrating shared living
new life
becomes mine in the Lord
mine,
in the measured dancing of a new day
line drawing by Jackie
this life burns within
as a conscious wondering
which cannot be burnt out
by the death of destruction
I live with you
my friends –
of the same earth
and the same air –
may I come to know you
if I reach out with care
to share with you
the wealth of our becoming?
Awakening together to the
everlasting smile
of the days for meaning
to all our belonging
Reaching out
In the morning of my waking into faith
as the golden sun rises beyond dark hills,
my mind grows out to a longing for the
Christ life to be shared among people
in my own land.
The prayer of my Christian heritage
sings in my heart as the day flows by
under the toil of our working.
em>‘Namaste’ – my smile calls you from
the heat of the day to the shade of
my welcome.
line drawing by Jackie
Come – share my meal,
and I will walk with you where you may go –
to your home
to your work
willing to share with you
the pain of your oppression
or the joy in life
at the wonder of your growing.
Did you not hear of the Lord
who walked this way?
who knew the JOY of friends –
who felt the pain of loss?
Lord he is for me
Lord he is for you
when you open your eyes
to his loving.
You, pause on your way to listen …..
and together we search along
the rough dust road
resting only to gather strength
quietly in contemplation
under the neem trees’ shade
Wondering and loving
St Francis, line drawing by Jackie
peace to give . . .
peace to find . . . in my heart
and hearts of those I meet . . .
bump into – wander along with
the lilies of the field –
the grass which spring up – withers –
dies – seemingly untended . . .
belongs to my created world
love begins in wonder
and lights up the flame of loving another
of loving others
of bringing and receiving joy
understanding where there is bitterness
healing where there is pain . . .
the stark reality of love
which is starved
betrayed
abandoned
by hate – fear
and attitudes which cut
reject – silencing the
all embracing hope . . .
hope which regains
life
in the remembered moments
of our power to be . . .
our power to move mountains –
our power in the Spirit
to be free!
Freedom in the Church
The right to choose
is not to lose
the thread of my own growing
where words of fear
begin to tear
the fabric of my knowing….
who has the right?
or is it MIGHT?
which sets its sight on choking
the fragile growth renewed by
knowing faith INSPIRES…. not rages
Far from the hollow words absurd
which thunder their attention
for me the voice of God within
-so valuable to mention-
is in my heart and mind the way
to act with fine intention.
Next Our Wedding