The following poem was composed by our good friend, Roberto Palombi. Many of us have been faced with the awkward, painful, empty feelings of watching someone whom we love die. While many of us turn inward at such times, Roberto shows us that that inward searching and yearning can also find outward expression. It is the outward expression of our inward search that becomes our great gift to the world. May we invite God into our hearts to stir us and guide us and teach us. And may we pray for courage to take this inward stirring and give it back to God in how we live our lives. Thanks, Roberto, for giving to us and for teaching us and for showing us some of the Spirit of God that dwells within you.
My kinsman is sick.
What grows in his brain?
My sister feels his absence in the far future.
I start on another long journey
to visit, to watch life linger–
The ebbing glow of an ember.
My spirit brother–
I am comforted.
You light incense
and its prayer draws me home.
This lake hermit will return
to the touch of loon chant
on prayer beads,
to the sound of moon
caressing deep water,
to the sight of your voice
calling through pines.