Ring of Beads
October 14, 2018
Madonna in the Rosary, Stefano da Zevio; c. 1410
JOHANNA writes:
Last week my husband and I attended the final Rosary of one of the many 54 day Novenas taking place across our country and the world. Our group of about 40 consisted of both young and old with the young outnumbering us which was very encouraging though bittersweet because of close relatives who have lost the faith. We stood together on a Northeastern coastline, feet planted in the wet sand, surrounded by God’s gifts, reciting His glorious chapters.
A young woman who had brought her dog to the beach was some yards behind us and seemed drawn to what we were doing. Several decades in, I glanced in her direction and she was still there. Just then she prepared to leave and began quietly calling her dog, which had made itself a part of our group. She called and called and it would not go to her even when she came right next to it with her commands. It took a clip of leash to collar and a forceful tug to get the dog to move away from us. I found this very interesting.
I wrote this poem a couple of years ago. The secretary in our rectory was going to publish it in the bulletin but my graphics didn’t work with whatever she was using. I also showed it to a friend who used to be a teacher and she gave it back to me with a bunch of corrections which I didn’t heed. I like to think someone might read it and be encouraged to say the Rosary. It has helped me so much that I have to say it every day.
Ring of Beads
Ring of beads, sing a song regaling.
Yield for me a ritual bailing. On the road
Or through life sailing, your grief reduces
mine to paling.
You are the Queen of Rue ordained.
Your joy, all singed with ailing, abates my
own ’til it retreats, with thoughts of you,
prevailing.
Roses borne on stems of suffering,
soothe my little aches to offerings.
