Resurrection Clothes

Lord, what were you wearing when you rose?

What were your Resurrection clothes?

A gardener’s rough attire?

A traveler’s robe?

The burial cloth aside (no longer

suitable attire for one not dead).

Aside, the strip of cloth

that wound about your head.

What did your Father give you then?

What Resurrection garb was fitting

for a Savior to be clothed in

to walk among the not-yet-dead

and not-yet-risen?

You looked like us, I think.

No one could tell the difference at first,

but when you spoke, or broke the bread

or walked through solid doors

or roasted fish or let a loved one

thrust his hand into your side—

ah, then we saw and said,

“My Lord, my God!”

What are to be my Resurrection clothes?

if I’m to play a part in this event,

to share the rising that you’ve done?

I’ll look like everyone,

won’t I? My graveclothes gone,

emerging from my tomb,

I’ll walk, enrobed in you,

among the not-yet throng.

Will tend the garden, break the bread,

and walk along the shore

where dear ones strive,

will feed the hungry,

let a doubting friend come walk beside,

will speak a word of comfort and of peace

till strivings cease,

and Resurrection clothes you give

to everyone.

Easter Monday 2018

This is the first piece of writing I'm publishing on my new blog. Some friends have encouraged me to share my writing with a wider audience, but I've been reluctant till now. Truth be told, I still feel reluctant, but obviously I'm doing it. I hope you like it. If not, I hope you'll return. Maybe something else will strike you. Don't give up on me, please. I'm doing this because I'm through giving up on myself as a writer. Maybe my boldness in actually publishing these pieces online will encourage you to do the same, if you're not already doing it. And if you are, share your address with me so I can enjoy what you've written, or painted, or photographed, or designed. 

Why did I choose "Resurrection Clothes" as the title of this blog? When I decided to quit stalling about putting some of my recent writing out to an audience beyond a few friends (um... this morning), my most recent piece was this poem, and its title wouldn't leave me alone. Maybe this is the reawakening of someone long-asleep, Rip Van Whatley!

I started writing poems as a teenager, when I was Carol Adams, but later, continuing to read so many "real" poets, including my own husband, I gave up the attempt for decades. But about four years ago, when I began the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius as a retreat-in-life, a title occurred to me, and I began, in essence, taking dictation. Out came a poem. I've been writing them off and on since then. And before that, five-plus years ago, a group of us formed the Saturday Sisters, a group that meets monthly to share our writing, which of course encourages us to write. And before that, for many years, I've been a writing teacher and a writer of countless short essays and journal entries. I love writing, but my tastes are greater than my talents. Still, here I am, coming out.

I've shared many of the writings that will appear on this blog with the Saturday Sisters, as well as with several others, and the ones who have especially encouraged me to publish are Sister Chris Wiltrakis, Father Todd Kenny, Kathy Smith, Bobbi Cushman, Marcia Hodges (who blogs her beautiful art at paintingbythelake.blogspot.com), and the Saturday Sisters: Patty Abrahams, Vickie Bolling (bollingvickie on Instagram), Jacque Kochak (jacquekochak.com), and Laura Steltenpohl. And thank you to my mother, long gone from the earth, for being both a great and terrible example. Great because we wrote funny poems and limericks together when I was growing up, and she encouraged me by loving what I wrote (as mamas do). Terrible because she herself had quit writing as a young adult because, as she said, "There are already enough bad poets." I internalized that self-abasement and followed suit. Now, though, I'm going to try to only minimally judge what I feel inclined to post here. Some judgment is essential, of course. But if others like a piece--or even if they only say they do--or even if only I decide I like it, it's likely to show up here. Welcome to my blog, and thank you!