Chalice

 

         

    The cold of winter

    creeping

    into my

    old and achy bones

    The weight of the world

    in crisis

    hanging heavy

    on my shoulders 

    Overstressed

    releasing

    a long held breath 

    I had to find a reason

    to keep my heart believing

    I needed to give my

    overworked imagination

    a much needed rest.

    I turned off all the t.v. screens

    put my phone in silent mode

    enough with bad, bad news

    No more black Friday ads

    being mad or spending madly

    wouldn't lighten a load

    heavy enough

    with angst and foreboding 

    *********

    I went out in search

    of bell ringing

    I looked and listened

    for Carolers

    laughing and singing 

    Ready to rejoice

    in harmonious sounds

    of strangers and

    friends

    voices joyously

    mingling!

    Trying to lift my spirits

    I felt no joy at all

    everywhere

    were turned down faces

    A sea of eyes

    ready to cry

    an

    ocean's worth of tears 

    A bulb suddenly bright

    illuminated

    the darkness

    encroaching

    on my thoughts

    and soul

    I beheld a Grail

    In my future

    I saw

    a hallowed quest

    I would find

    Joy in the World

    I would bring back its light

    let it shine again !

    I heard the chalice

    call to me

    in the sigh of a hungry child

    I witnessed its reflection

    evident

    in her Father's eyes

    Shaking his hand

    wishing them well

    sliding into his palm

    all the help I could offer 

    There she was on a bridge

    overlooking troubled waters

    In the silence

    we locked eyes and cried

    understood

    overcame

    walked away hand in hand

    we held the chalice together 

    I watched a lonely man

    sharing

    his chalice with another

    taking joy in what they could

    having a drink

    to ward off the loneliness

    of sleeping

    in an alley or gutter 

    I saw a tough guy glaring

    clad in studs and leather

    help a woman struggling

    with a cart

    that held all of her possessions 

    There and then

    it came over me

    a brilliant light illuminating

    the treasure I had thought missing

    had been in our hearts all along.

    *********

    The Grail

    is only hidden

    when we forget

    the love that binds

    The chalice

    never empties

    when we keep it filled

    with the love held inside

    our sacred hearts

        12 / 13 / 2020