16 March 2016

Reliquary


File:Venice - Winged lion 02.jpg
Peace be upon you, O Mark, my Evangelist


Touchable—my
boxes and pictures
photographs and
sun throwing form
in silhouette
of departed
guests—not the sort
to steal and seal
in fascination
with death and the
potent magic
of body parts
(Saint Mark dug up
for Venice and
skin scrapings or
thumbs remaining)
I touch your gift
I send you Light
you give me strength





Copyright © 2016 Susan L. Chast 


20 comments:

  1. Oh those wonderful remembrances of those who journeyed here before.....our own very special saints!

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  2. Congrats on the book Susan. Mark the stalwart friend of Jesus...

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  3. I touch your gift
    I send you Light
    you give me strength

    Such beauty such awe in your lines..!
    Powerfully expressed.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  4. The skin scrapings or thumbs remaining - is such a potent line in this magical box..i love the sense of containing special moments and people - as if when we open the box we can celebrate in them again and again

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  5. Yikes, I had forgotten those skin scrapings. I have some blessed oil from St Joseph an elderly friend gave me.....supposed to have been burning in front of his statue with special powers. I LOVE "I send you Light. You give me strength.

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  6. An untouched gift would impart neither strength nor light. Your poem reminds me to touch--and touch well--all that I receive.

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  7. Love those last lines. I don't know St. Mark, but he seems to influence your life. Nice.

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  8. I like to think of St. Mark as a servant youth that observed Jesus and the disciples and was impressed enough to write the first gospel to influence the whole world to this very day. Beautifully done Susan.

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  9. my favorite line "I send you light" yes, that is something we all need...

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  10. precious words all, however my favourite lines are
    "I touch your gift
    I send you Light
    you give me strength"

    Thanks for an extremely interesting prompt

    much love...

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  11. Clever... with the reference to relics.Hmmm shades of Luther:) Now there's a priest we never made a saint LOL. Enjoyed this.

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  12. Great conjuring of a unique tradition and to tie it together.

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  13. There is so much sun shine in your poetry.

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  14. This is lovely. I have always recoiled at the thought of "holy relics," especially when body parts are involved! This dealt with the idea nicely. Thx for linking to the saints at Poets United! Amy

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  15. I love the way you close this piece and the image you open with. Interesting prompt indeed! Thank you, Susan!

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  16. Very nice... !Let their wisdom pass on too :)

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  17. A great tribute, Susan, and wonderfully expressed!
    Thank you for your very apt comment on my post.
    I shall be happy if you care to read my reply there:)

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  18. I send you Light
    you give me strength

    There is salvation in these beautiful lines Susan! Great ending!

    Hank

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  19. I think the marvellous thing about saints is their accessiblity and "touchability". A believer can touch a saint and be touched by his/her saintliness. And that's what effects positive change in a believer. Nice one, Susan.

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