First Things RSS Feed - Carol A. Taylor

No Honor

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -0400

I stole an apple, ripe and red,
?hanging on my neighbor’s tree.
?“He’ll never miss just one,” I said,
?and ate it up. Then, fat and fed,
?I licked my sticky hands and fled,
?smug and conscience-free.

But as I quit the neighborhood,
?a thief, who’d seen my larceny,
?back-traced my steps through field and wood,
?and coming on the small abode
?where all my worldly goods were stored,
?took what belonged to me.

Does nothing sacrosanct remain?
?No fellowship? No hidden line?
?No code of honor in the grain
?to make another thief refrain
?from poaching in this thief’s terrain?
?That’s wrong! What’s mine is mine!

Continue Reading »

Mixed Blessings

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Thanksgiving Day, 2010

The turkey’s in the oven. My bare feet
rest on the windowsill. A welcome breeze
wafts past ten gnarled toes, a late fall treat.
The forecast says tonight it’s going to freeze.

A new computer sits with darkened screen,
with bells and whistles I don’t want or need,
while I fire up the five-year-old machine
that suits my comfort zone (except for speed).

Two years ago our son lay gravely ill.
We spent Thanksgiving day in ICU.
They say adversity that doesn’t kill?
you makes you stronger. I can prove it’s true.

My cup’s half full; I haven’t drained it yet.
Mixed blessings are the only kind you get.

Continue Reading »

Final Reward

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400

St. Peter stands at the Heavenly Gates?
enrolling a new admission.
“Reporting for duty, sir,” Mike Clancy states.
“ First, make a good Act of Contrition. ”

Continue Reading »