First Things RSS Feed - T. Kretz https://www.firstthings.com/author/t-kretz en-us Copyright 2025 First Things. All Rights Reserved. ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:55:27 -0500 https://d2201k5v4hmrsv.cloudfront.net/img/favicon-196.png First Things RSS Feed Image https://www.firstthings.com/rss/author/t-kretz 60 The Dying Infirmarian https://www.firstthings.com/article/1997/01/001-the-dying-infirmarian https://www.firstthings.com/article/1997/01/001-the-dying-infirmarian Wed, 01 Jan 1997 00:00:00 -0500 He felt isolated but knew the ritual,
Had witnessed more than four score
And been a mortician in most:
Other Brothers start singing psalms
With intense if temporary concern And then file off to have their dinner,
Cerain their brother’s in angelville,
While in the dawn of a moribund mind
Slow realization of imminent planting,
Riding the bed while the sun delays: Timidly, side-saddle, in pace or gallop.
This infirmarian a pacer and always
Had been from the first old Jesuit
Who gently died in his trembling arms
Moving toward the end in measured joy. It amused him to guess who would be
First to sack his desk and wardrobe,
Occupy the room and infirmarian’s job
The priest obliged to stay to the end
Knew no prayers for a final smirk.

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]]> Dogwoods Not This Spring https://www.firstthings.com/article/1997/01/003-dogwoods-not-this-spring https://www.firstthings.com/article/1997/01/003-dogwoods-not-this-spring Wed, 01 Jan 1997 00:00:00 -0500 The dogwoods will not bloom this year,
We feel it in trunks and limbs,
No pink crosses to calm our fear,
White X’s for our O’s. Packed endurance of snow too long,
Twigs and logs needed for fire;
Spring dragged in bereft of song,
Fruit and flower in vain desire. They won’t bloom after such a freeze
And the orchards will follow suit,
No pink cheeks for our apple trees,
White U’s for our I’s.

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]]> Dogwoods Not This Spring https://www.firstthings.com/article/1997/01/003-dgwoods-not-this-spring https://www.firstthings.com/article/1997/01/003-dgwoods-not-this-spring Wed, 01 Jan 1997 00:00:00 -0500 The dogwoods will not bloom this year,
We feel it in trunks and limbs,
No pink crosses to calm our fear,
White X’s for our O’s. Packed endurance of snow too long,
Twigs and logs needed for fire;
Spring dragged in bereft of song,
Fruit and flower in vain desire. They won’t bloom after such a freeze
And the orchards will follow suit,
No pink cheeks for our apple trees,
White U’s for out I’s.

Continue Reading »

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