POETRY

For Beauty’s Sake Glass-climbing grasshopper stepping nicely up the window of my writing house Is this mountain climbing the “fiddling” you do while your counterpart picks his way through grass, carrying on his back whatever he’s found to stave off death by quick and fatal hunger? And you? Do you think about that as you lift your elegance up the window, sun shining through your reds and greens like the stained glass of cathedrals in northern France? -- Judith Robbins    Whitefield, Maine

Even the Grass Knows Sustainer of life,    grass graces    the soil,    everywhere. With roots,    grass searches    the depths of dust    waiting for water to    nourish it green. Roots of peace    go deep Spirit searches    the depths of humans    waiting for    their response. Rain and peace    will come. When and where    the grass    knows. -- Clem J. Nagel    Fridley, Minn.

When I Was Six I stood on our porch after the spring shower and watched the sun come out and shine its dappled light on trembling, glistening leaves. I was almost six. I stood transfixed. I saw God wrapped in beauty that April afternoon. -- Fred Ruof    Baltimore, Md.

Note to poets: Short lines preferred. Poetry is published in a newspaper column only 35 characters wide, counting punctuation and spaces. Submit poems to Poetry, NCR, PO Box 411009, Kansas City MO 64141-1009, or e-mail at poetry@ncronline.org.

National Catholic Reporter, January 25, 2008