Issue IV: Labyrinthine Poetry and Prose
The Man with the Pitcher of Water by John C. Mannone
April 13, 2019
April 13, 2019
**Just before the Passover ~30 AD
At the marriage supper in Cana of Galilee**
She said, “We’re out of wine.” He said, “What’s that to me
and to you, Dearest Lady? My hour has not yet come.”
And she immediately understood. She remembered
the conversation they had in Nazareth last year:
She said, “Son. When will you take a wife?”
He said, “I must be about my Father’s business first,
but one day I will come back for her. I will skip
over the hills. But my heart will be heavy
soon. Yet, from it will flow an everlasting
water—a wine of salvation
courses through my veins. I will shed
blood for her, but I will be back. I promise.”
When the plug valve was lifted, clean water spilled
into 30-gallon water pots, but servants ladled out
fine wine.
**Just before the Passover ~33 AD
At the Last Supper in Jerusalem**
He said to his disciples, “Go into the city.
A man carrying a pitcher of water will greet you.
Follow him.” And his disciples met the messenger
who brought the water.
(Was it from Jacob’s Well or the Pool of Siloam?)
They went into the Upper Room and readied it
for the Day of Preparation, because on the morrow
there would be the sacrifice of all the lambs.
They set the pitcher of water on the table with the food
and unleavened bread. His mother helped before she went
to set up the women’s table on the other side. She wept
when she heard him say the hour has come, and he broke
the bread, and then took the pitcher of water--
he poured out the wine of the new covenant.
He will not drink of it again until he returns for his bride
and takes her to his Father’s house for the marriage
supper of the Lamb.
At the marriage supper in Cana of Galilee**
She said, “We’re out of wine.” He said, “What’s that to me
and to you, Dearest Lady? My hour has not yet come.”
And she immediately understood. She remembered
the conversation they had in Nazareth last year:
She said, “Son. When will you take a wife?”
He said, “I must be about my Father’s business first,
but one day I will come back for her. I will skip
over the hills. But my heart will be heavy
soon. Yet, from it will flow an everlasting
water—a wine of salvation
courses through my veins. I will shed
blood for her, but I will be back. I promise.”
When the plug valve was lifted, clean water spilled
into 30-gallon water pots, but servants ladled out
fine wine.
**Just before the Passover ~33 AD
At the Last Supper in Jerusalem**
He said to his disciples, “Go into the city.
A man carrying a pitcher of water will greet you.
Follow him.” And his disciples met the messenger
who brought the water.
(Was it from Jacob’s Well or the Pool of Siloam?)
They went into the Upper Room and readied it
for the Day of Preparation, because on the morrow
there would be the sacrifice of all the lambs.
They set the pitcher of water on the table with the food
and unleavened bread. His mother helped before she went
to set up the women’s table on the other side. She wept
when she heard him say the hour has come, and he broke
the bread, and then took the pitcher of water--
he poured out the wine of the new covenant.
He will not drink of it again until he returns for his bride
and takes her to his Father’s house for the marriage
supper of the Lamb.
February to March ‘Part I’ of Labyrinthine Passages issue IV
In Which We See the Labyrinth split!
In Which We See the Labyrinth split!
Mary’s Prayer by James A. Carter
Febuary 6, 2019
Febuary 6, 2019
I could not sleep, and the white night was full of weather.
So I sat at my loom and wove gay garments
For the wedding I will never have, the bride I will never be.
Shall I be helpmeet or handmaid to Lord or laborer,
Betrothed to a beloved whose face is smoke and mist?
Will I lie in his arms in our bed, or shame the hearth
With barren womb, tasting bitter fruit with lips unkissed
And loins longing to feel his weight upon me?
Jehovah, Yahweh, the path is yours I follow:
Empty, filled, fertile, or hollow.
The footsteps I leave will not be mine,
But I beg you to leave me a sign,
If only a floating feather,
For the night is so long and full of weather.
So I sat at my loom and wove gay garments
For the wedding I will never have, the bride I will never be.
Shall I be helpmeet or handmaid to Lord or laborer,
Betrothed to a beloved whose face is smoke and mist?
Will I lie in his arms in our bed, or shame the hearth
With barren womb, tasting bitter fruit with lips unkissed
And loins longing to feel his weight upon me?
Jehovah, Yahweh, the path is yours I follow:
Empty, filled, fertile, or hollow.
The footsteps I leave will not be mine,
But I beg you to leave me a sign,
If only a floating feather,
For the night is so long and full of weather.
Once I, Lucifer by James A. Carter
Febuary 6, 2019
Febuary 6, 2019
Once I, Lucifer, set aloft in the light of your godhead,
Frangible moth tethered to translucent flame,
Dared to challenge divinity. A cloud on the perfect face
Of preeminence, I, bastard in beatific guise,
Roused rebellion, sowing discord in a heart
Once bound only in heavenly calling.
Cast me down now, and still lower down,
Down beneath heel of foot never shod;
Down, down, and down still lower:
Beneath light and translucence:
Beyond the frightening mercy of God.
Frangible moth tethered to translucent flame,
Dared to challenge divinity. A cloud on the perfect face
Of preeminence, I, bastard in beatific guise,
Roused rebellion, sowing discord in a heart
Once bound only in heavenly calling.
Cast me down now, and still lower down,
Down beneath heel of foot never shod;
Down, down, and down still lower:
Beneath light and translucence:
Beyond the frightening mercy of God.
My Angelic Tooth Fairy by Luisa Kay Reyes
February 15, 2019
February 15, 2019
When I was a little girl, I loved to sing to the stars while leaning outside of my bedroom window in Mexico City. One day, I lost my tooth and I eagerly awaited the arrival of the tooth fairy during the coming evening. She was always very generous with me, but I was developing a big question concerning the tooth fairy. For I was a scholarship student at a well-to-do school and I was puzzled by something I had noticed among my classmates. It seemed that the tooth fairy did not bring the same gifts to everyone. The well-off kids tended to get very large and expensive presents, while the pupils who weren’t of high economic means, tended to get smaller, almost inconsequential sweets. I asked my Mother about this observation of mine and she gave me the only explanation that she knew: apparently the affluent kids have an affluent tooth fairy while the destitute kids, a poor one. In my childish innocence, I told my Mother that I thought the affluent tooth fairy should visit the destitute children because they have nothing and the poor tooth fairy should visit the moneyed students, since they already have everything they desire. My Mother had no other explanation for me, so I pushed my egalitarian notions out of my mind. Contentedly tucking my tooth under my pillow for the night and falling asleep in anticipation of what delights would be revealed to me the following morning.
At one point during the night, while I was fast asleep and without a care in the world, I suddenly felt this beautiful glowing warm sensation come over me. It felt so pure and so warm without being hot. And even while I was in the intermediate stage between sleeping soundly and being awake and fully cognizant, I could feel that this sensation was unparalleled in its beauty. The feeling was warm and lovely. Beginning at my feet and then traversing upwards along my body, filling me with such a sense of warmth, goodness, and purity along the way. I simply delighted in this magnificently wholesomely warm feeling for a few moments before opening my eyes.
Discovering to my joy, that there was a beautiful angel. A beautiful and real angel standing right there in front of me at the foot of my very own bed. She was looking right at me and her classically structured and beautiful face exuded pure kindness and gentleness. But, also some sort of authority. She stood firmly in place and sensing her genuine goodness, I felt no fear, but rather I felt very much drawn to her. I looked directly at her and concluded that she must be my tooth fairy, come to visit me. She was glowing and producing her own soft light. She was so very beautiful with her floor-length gown the color of light blue. And her complexion was very fair with long blonde hair and the kindest look out of her crystal blue eyes. Were I to venture a guess, she appeared to be anywhere from twenty to thirty-five. And while she didn’t utter a word, somehow I could just sense that she liked me and approved of me.
I continued looking right at her for a few moments, feeling content and fully at ease all the while that I did so. However, I then turned my head back towards my pillow with the object of seeing what candies she may have left me. But, just before reaching under my pillow, I stopped short. For I knew, that my Mother always liked for us to share such moments with the entire family. And she would be so disappointed if I didn’t wait until the morning, when my brother and she could join me and likely partake of whatever candies this beautiful angel had left for me.
Changing my mind, I turned my head back around and gazed once more upon my exceedingly kind and shimmeringly beautiful tooth fairy, who was still regally standing in the same spot at the foot of my bed as before. I could sense that I met with her approval. And after looking very kindly right at me some more, with a closed lips smile, she then proceeded to leave my room through the wall. I noticed the wall bulge slightly upon her exit. But, as I looked after her, all I could think of was the one-of-a-kind beautiful warm feeling that she had brought to me.
I then fell back asleep, sleeping peacefully until the following morning. At which time, upon awakening, I excitedly told my Mother that the tooth fairy had visited me during the night. That she was a beautiful angel in a light blue dress.
Then, many years later, after my family had moved back to the United States, I was visiting the neighborhood of my childhood. And while riding in the car with one of my childhood friends, I recounted to him my experience with my beautiful angel. He sat in silence while I told him about my angelic visitation, leading me to believe at first that he didn’t believe me. However, once I finished, he paused for a moment before informing me that I was the third person in our neighborhood to tell him that story. That his neighbor had been visited by the same angel and even painted her house blue to honor her visit. So immediately upon returning to his family’s mansion, he showed us his neighbor’s home. And sure enough, it was painted a light blue, the very same shade and hue of my angel’s blue dress.
At one point during the night, while I was fast asleep and without a care in the world, I suddenly felt this beautiful glowing warm sensation come over me. It felt so pure and so warm without being hot. And even while I was in the intermediate stage between sleeping soundly and being awake and fully cognizant, I could feel that this sensation was unparalleled in its beauty. The feeling was warm and lovely. Beginning at my feet and then traversing upwards along my body, filling me with such a sense of warmth, goodness, and purity along the way. I simply delighted in this magnificently wholesomely warm feeling for a few moments before opening my eyes.
Discovering to my joy, that there was a beautiful angel. A beautiful and real angel standing right there in front of me at the foot of my very own bed. She was looking right at me and her classically structured and beautiful face exuded pure kindness and gentleness. But, also some sort of authority. She stood firmly in place and sensing her genuine goodness, I felt no fear, but rather I felt very much drawn to her. I looked directly at her and concluded that she must be my tooth fairy, come to visit me. She was glowing and producing her own soft light. She was so very beautiful with her floor-length gown the color of light blue. And her complexion was very fair with long blonde hair and the kindest look out of her crystal blue eyes. Were I to venture a guess, she appeared to be anywhere from twenty to thirty-five. And while she didn’t utter a word, somehow I could just sense that she liked me and approved of me.
I continued looking right at her for a few moments, feeling content and fully at ease all the while that I did so. However, I then turned my head back towards my pillow with the object of seeing what candies she may have left me. But, just before reaching under my pillow, I stopped short. For I knew, that my Mother always liked for us to share such moments with the entire family. And she would be so disappointed if I didn’t wait until the morning, when my brother and she could join me and likely partake of whatever candies this beautiful angel had left for me.
Changing my mind, I turned my head back around and gazed once more upon my exceedingly kind and shimmeringly beautiful tooth fairy, who was still regally standing in the same spot at the foot of my bed as before. I could sense that I met with her approval. And after looking very kindly right at me some more, with a closed lips smile, she then proceeded to leave my room through the wall. I noticed the wall bulge slightly upon her exit. But, as I looked after her, all I could think of was the one-of-a-kind beautiful warm feeling that she had brought to me.
I then fell back asleep, sleeping peacefully until the following morning. At which time, upon awakening, I excitedly told my Mother that the tooth fairy had visited me during the night. That she was a beautiful angel in a light blue dress.
Then, many years later, after my family had moved back to the United States, I was visiting the neighborhood of my childhood. And while riding in the car with one of my childhood friends, I recounted to him my experience with my beautiful angel. He sat in silence while I told him about my angelic visitation, leading me to believe at first that he didn’t believe me. However, once I finished, he paused for a moment before informing me that I was the third person in our neighborhood to tell him that story. That his neighbor had been visited by the same angel and even painted her house blue to honor her visit. So immediately upon returning to his family’s mansion, he showed us his neighbor’s home. And sure enough, it was painted a light blue, the very same shade and hue of my angel’s blue dress.
She Dines in Heaven Tonight! by Nidhin George
February 20, 2019
February 20, 2019
My Grandma (Saramma) who I’ve always called ‘Ammachi’ is being laid to eternal rest today. And along with her 3 sons and family and 7 grandchildren this is what I have to say.
We are deeply grieved that our mother has left her earthly abode, but we rejoice because we know this –
She Dines in Heaven Tonight!
Her purpose in life, here on earth is done,
as she now falls asleep,
The eternal crown of victory she has won!
My grandma is now asleep.
Her life a wonderful testament, of her God she proclaimed and told
How with her saviour and in faith, she lived and how she grew old.
I remember her love and care, and how it felt her warm embrace
oh, what awesome dishes she made, she was a woman of grace!
I remember the stories she told and the bible verses she’d recite
‘He who dwells in the shadow of the most high‘ was her delight!
Today, my grandma will be laid to rest, beside her partner in life
tonight in heaven she dines, no more pain or troubles or strife!
Her sons and daughters and grandchildren are all here today,
The last earthly rites to do, before our final goodbyes we say.
Her bed will lie empty tonight, and her slipper abandoned on the floor,
We’ll go back to a void, while grandma’s reception is at heaven’s door!
She’ll lie in eternal sleep, in peace by the grave of her love
for grandma’s back to her God, her home in heaven above!
I know there’s celebrations, the saints and angels all stand
To welcome a faithful servant and invite her in by hand!
To hear the Lord tell her, good and faithful servant, well done!
you’ve run the good race and kept the faith, the crown of righteousness is won!
When it’s all been said and done and grandma’s been laid to rest
I’ll miss her much, but this I know, she will be heaven’s dear guest.
Oh what joy, what blessed assurance, to know she’s found eternal rest
in the arms of Jesus, safe at last, from all this world’s trials and unrest!
But I will see her once again when the Lord’s trumpet shall sound
in heavenly glory devoid of pain, singing praises so profound!
Her mortal flesh and all her pain, given in exchange for one
new body no riches can compare, in eternal life with the Son!
We are deeply grieved that our mother has left her earthly abode, but we rejoice because we know this –
She Dines in Heaven Tonight!
Her purpose in life, here on earth is done,
as she now falls asleep,
The eternal crown of victory she has won!
My grandma is now asleep.
Her life a wonderful testament, of her God she proclaimed and told
How with her saviour and in faith, she lived and how she grew old.
I remember her love and care, and how it felt her warm embrace
oh, what awesome dishes she made, she was a woman of grace!
I remember the stories she told and the bible verses she’d recite
‘He who dwells in the shadow of the most high‘ was her delight!
Today, my grandma will be laid to rest, beside her partner in life
tonight in heaven she dines, no more pain or troubles or strife!
Her sons and daughters and grandchildren are all here today,
The last earthly rites to do, before our final goodbyes we say.
Her bed will lie empty tonight, and her slipper abandoned on the floor,
We’ll go back to a void, while grandma’s reception is at heaven’s door!
She’ll lie in eternal sleep, in peace by the grave of her love
for grandma’s back to her God, her home in heaven above!
I know there’s celebrations, the saints and angels all stand
To welcome a faithful servant and invite her in by hand!
To hear the Lord tell her, good and faithful servant, well done!
you’ve run the good race and kept the faith, the crown of righteousness is won!
When it’s all been said and done and grandma’s been laid to rest
I’ll miss her much, but this I know, she will be heaven’s dear guest.
Oh what joy, what blessed assurance, to know she’s found eternal rest
in the arms of Jesus, safe at last, from all this world’s trials and unrest!
But I will see her once again when the Lord’s trumpet shall sound
in heavenly glory devoid of pain, singing praises so profound!
Her mortal flesh and all her pain, given in exchange for one
new body no riches can compare, in eternal life with the Son!
Common Ground by Mary Harwell Sayler
March 1, 2019
March 1, 2019
In the beginning, when Genes is
as unknown as the menorah or a
candlelight vigil on Christmas
Eve – or even the notion of seeds
sown to assure an ample
harvest – and when atom
is foreshadowed in a pun,
DNA is begun:
chromosome
of the sun’s slow rising
on what’s now known
as history,
and in that light,
seeds sink in rows
we hoe in hope our fruit
might travel well
and carry a desire
to dominate.
As for the flowering
of recessive genes:
forgiveness rotates
and wrings discordance
from our generic core.
as unknown as the menorah or a
candlelight vigil on Christmas
Eve – or even the notion of seeds
sown to assure an ample
harvest – and when atom
is foreshadowed in a pun,
DNA is begun:
chromosome
of the sun’s slow rising
on what’s now known
as history,
and in that light,
seeds sink in rows
we hoe in hope our fruit
might travel well
and carry a desire
to dominate.
As for the flowering
of recessive genes:
forgiveness rotates
and wrings discordance
from our generic core.
Burial Grounds by Mary Harwell Sayler
March 1, 2019
March 1, 2019
Egyptian pyramids….
Native American mounds….
Anglo-Saxon barrows….
Fiery pyres on the Ganges….
Grecian abjurations
shoveled into
exquisite urns….
Who knows what’s needed when?
Today we marked off plots
in an old cemetery lot in an open
field on an unpaved country road.
To be prepared, we paid for four,
with more possibilities remaining
open
for a final gathering.
Death has many options.
Jesus!
Touch my bier.
Native American mounds….
Anglo-Saxon barrows….
Fiery pyres on the Ganges….
Grecian abjurations
shoveled into
exquisite urns….
Who knows what’s needed when?
Today we marked off plots
in an old cemetery lot in an open
field on an unpaved country road.
To be prepared, we paid for four,
with more possibilities remaining
open
for a final gathering.
Death has many options.
Jesus!
Touch my bier.