Saturday breakfast between football and a prayer group
Down the Gulf coast of Texas, where the blood
Sometimes runs sienna, sometimes umber, red, maroon...
Born where the pipes' pulse set the health of the family.
There's not always a sign when something goes silent
Until the day you're holding yourself up,
Rain drumming the spine of a low bus
On a campus full of generations looking up and down--
And you remember your nostalgia watching Happy Days
For your parents' lives. Maybe you knew, then,
That the small cathedral would always be dark,
Would lack a congregation. You only notice
When others' altar lights make the dust sparkle
And your knees buckle
But your wrist holds.
Sharing with The Sunday Muse and with Poets United for the Poetry Pantry #446.
Such striking imagery in this Chrissa! It takes your heart and what we know of family and faith on a journey of belief. I especially love "theres not always a sign when something goes silent until the day you are holding yourself up" A sad yet beautiful truth is held in that line! Beautiful writing!
ReplyDeleteI know that nostalgia for the apparently vanished Happy Days. I wonder if today's kids will have nostalgic things to remember about these days, which feel so fraught.
ReplyDeleteThe interweaving of family and faith and time is penned so delicately and exquisitely here, Chrissa. This is a beautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteWonderful contemplation. So sad about the small cathedral always being dark though! I like your way of weaving details so intricately.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful and moving write, Chrissa. I really enjoyed the imagery throughout the lines.
ReplyDeleteKnees buckle but wrists hold. Nice. Gotta holdon or else you give into the struggle
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my sumie Sunday today Chrissa
Much💚love
For some families, especially ones in small towns, sports become a sort of religion. And heaven help the infidels that have no interest in being part of the choir. Those darkened cathedrals can be very lonely.
ReplyDeletethis is why reading your poetry is so much fun, and a challenge.
ReplyDeletei want to reread it again, tracing my finger down the Gulf coast, trying to imagine what the towns and hamlets there look like.
great poetry!
Oh this is really good.. poignant and that small town vibe coming through so wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly poignant, Chrissa. You portray the elements of faith and importance of family so well!
ReplyDeleteThe way you've handled religion, relationships, and (perhaps) moving on is quite impressive. Those are never easy to tackle. I can feel the almost grief of what was, right there mixed with a new sort of grief resulted from wondering if what the speaker thought was loss wasn't truly there to begin with.
ReplyDeleteLove the imagery in here. Comes through powerfully.
ReplyDeleteBrilliantly, beautifully nostalgic.
ReplyDeleteA thought inspiring work even for a small Cathedral. :)
ReplyDelete