Essy The Poet

There is a man elevated from the rest By his grace and style and taste The man we’d all want to be The man who has conquered, by me.   Not a monk, he wouldn’t have been remarkable Not a husband, he wouldn’t have been charitable Not a politician, he wouldn’t have been sincere Not a poor man, he would be wallowing in excuse.   The man who never wobbles even when grappling, I tried being him for a day My words unmeasured, my acts ungraceful My steps unsure, my taste wobbly The pedestal so tall, I fell before sunset I had to go digging for his secret.   His gaze lay on a man so great Though unseen by many as heroic As he vulnerably hung on a tree Such a secret!   The man elevated from the rest Draws his phenomenal character from the C ross Nothing he does is gross.   A shepherd of shepherds Bishop Dominic! On your 35th priestly anniversary.   By Sr. Esther Koros OSF 

From the tiny voices of the valley  We are the lilies surviving at the valley  We are the future, featuring already We are the lilies of this great nation  The combat's on! Beware you all There were so many on this road Beaten down,  weighed down, clamped back We are the lilies surviving the desolation.  Some girls ripped off school,  Promised something absolutely cool. Carnal knowledge,Children having children.   We are the lilies surviving at the valley.  Some boys   ripped off school  Promised superpowers; guns for cattle  Child soldiers,misled and now, no more We are the lilies surviving at the valley.  These children having children Their sexuality mutilated, numbed up. They know not the pleasures of childhood and adulthood.  We are the lilies surviving at the valley. Surviving is all we know We got books and bibles, and sanity.  We've got God too.