Memories of a Catholic Childhood
by revbillcook
I remember the cinnamon smell of incense rising thick from the heavy thurible slow pendulum and the thurifer head bowed circling the altar dark flickering candles casting shadows on rough stone walls and dust drifting through columns of blue and amber light streaming through darkness coloring Mary’s gentle gaze spilling across the gray granite altar and silence filling the immense vaulted arches and the soft murmur of prayers while Nuns in dark habits finger rosary beads moving their pale lips the taste of the air like paper melting on my tongue and Christ hangs impaled on the cross head bowed offering God’s peace to the world
Wow, how very interesting the way you’ve put this together! The image is etched in my mind!!!!! Sending you much love and have a wonderful day! ~ Amanda
Thank you. I think these early experiences of worship somehow are imprinted in my spirit. It is a joy to share all of this with you. Be well. – Bill
very special entry,
It is night time in my place, I prefer to put up the post after 11 hours…
enjoy your talent here.
As always, thanks for all you are doing. – Bill
[…] Poetry Matters:https://beginningpoetry.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/a-catholic-childhood/ […]
nice piece-
Thank you.
A detailed nuanced reminiscence… well done!
http://mairmusic.wordpress.com/
Thank you. I had hoped to communicate something of the mystery of being a child surrounded by the mystery of the colors and smells of mass. – Bill
I do remember all this very well- it helps to shape our lives even if we do not want it to…personally I like the memory…bkm
Thanks. The power of the images do imprint themselves on us. I also appreciate the memories, and they still shape something of the way that I experience the world. – Bill
wow. love your descriptors…nice write…His grace to all indeed…
THanks. – Bill
Hi Brian. More than thanks. Somehow I posted the comment before I finished making it. I do so appreciate youe taking the time to read this. Thanks – Bill
i like it.
You’ve done my absolute favourite form of poetry here.
And it does well without commas and full stops.
It works.
great job
Thanks. I have been intrigued by this form. This is the first time I have tried to write in it. I appreciate your encouragement. – Bill
wow wonderfully put…nice imagery:)
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. – Bill
beautiful.
Thank you for your encouragement. – Bill
you give an artistic flair to the run-on sentence. i love the lack of punctuation and the tone here is almost like the swinging of the pendulum in your poem…well done!
Thanks. I wondered how far I could run on without running beyond a readable post. I appreciate your comment. – Bill
you describe the church very well
nice piece!
Pamela
Thanks. The memories for me are good and I wanted to enter them again. I appreciate that you took the time to read and comment. – Bill
quite the stream of consciousness…. very vivid imagery; you make memory come to life.
Thank you so much. that is what I was trying to do. I am glad you enjoyed it. – Bill
Such beautiful imagery! Wonderful job!
Thanks you so much. I appreciate your generosity of spirit. – Bill
I enjoyed this much. Well done . . .
Thanks. I appreciate your encouragement.
such a pleasant peaceful feeling to this, I like it.
alan
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. – Bill
great imagery in the poem.
Thanks for checking this out. – Bill
“Mary’s gentle gaze spilling across the gray granite altar” Love the tiny hints of alliteration. You almost make the rituals sound like a cult performing top secret acts. When I read your piece I started to think of Sophie from The Da Vinci Code looking at things she couldn’t understand…How less observant I’ve become in adulthood of my church. Maybe on Sunday I’ll go in a little early just to make my own observations. This was a great read.
Thanks. I was trying to capture something of what it felt to be a child in awe at the mystery of the mass, not understanding, yet caught up in it. And moved by it. I appreciate your response and generous comment. – Bill
[…] Link: https://beginningpoetry.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/a-catholic-childhood/ […]
very descriptive, brought back my own memories of mass, nice job – shelli
These memories do stay part of us. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. – Bill
nice
Thanks. I appreciate your feedback. – Bill
Extremely descriptive. Like it.
Thank you for your generous comment. – Bill
[…] Matters:https://beginningpoetry.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/a-catholic-childhood/ (done, […]
ohhhhhhhh this is so…it’s one of those few times when i cannot find the proper words to describe how it made me feel…
Thank you for your most generous comments. – bill