POETRY

Shrine

Poems for the Jubilee Year

instant film photo by author

Darling humble tender of roses
full of youth and determination — even now
your Little Way radiates
from the tomblike corners of this shrine
where they keep pieces of you
(little ones, always little)
locked behind iron bars
and encased in elaborate boxes.

I know you can see it:
can you believe it?

Upstairs you are busy
showering down petals,
industrious as ever.

I am little, too, and on my knees;
before this holy room I am even littler
the whole world looks past me easily
(taller and more aloof)
but I feel your hand giving mine a squeeze.

We are little together
but plenty big enough.

I met a friend of mine at the Little Flower Basilica in San Antonio, for a daytrip pilgrimage in honor of the Jubilee Year. It was a beautiful experience, and it’s a beautiful place! St Therese is my confirmation saint so she has had a special place in my heart for more than 3 decades (yikes wow I didn’t realize how long ago that was until I started typing). I made the polaroid photo you see at the top right before we left, when they had turned out the lights in the church after mass.

Thank you for reading!