The Feast of Saint Joseph

Dear Readers,

I heard a homily on the Feast of Saint Joseph that got me thinking about this poem. Or rather, it gave a form to a poem that had been rolling around in my head since the prodigal son was in the gospel some weeks before. It gave it form, and I am just posting it here because I wrote the whole thing in ten minute breaks during Korean class and half of a lunch break. Hope you enjoy it!

The Feast of Saint Joseph 

Come Home, My Son, Come Home!

I hear the accusing call, from way out here

In the wilderness, convicting me of my crime

Wallowing with my swine

You are hungry, why delay?

The voice stirs my conscience, reminds me of the way

I lived on borrowed coin

You are worth far more than this. Come join

Your family. I will meet you in the middle.

I am worth so little

When will you come home?

I will go.

My Son is coming home! Prepare the ring!

I accept that I dare not see your face

I confess my sin and take the lowest place.

I deserve your ire

Child, come up higher!

I am not even worthy of serving you for hire

You are a grubby little child, and you need a bath.

You are not so grandly evil as all that, no matter what you did.

Hurry home and I will meet you on the path

With a basin and a towel

Heaven Forbid!

Lord, you shall never wash my feet!

I am not so presumptuous, not by half!

I have saved for you the fatted calf!

See how eagerly I eat my muddy husks

Left over from the pigs?

When I have prepared for you unblemished Lamb?

They cut me with their tusks,

And I chew their dirty twigs.

That’s the best that I deserve.

Of all the nerve! Come in the house.

Lowest of the low, the grimiest louse

That ever infested the halls of the just,

Ashes and dust.

Dust and my breath! Come inside!

Lord, be sane! Have a mind for your dignity

 I know my place and I know my humility.

Although I am fallen, crippled, destined for mean use,

I still have pride enough to know Dominum, Non Sum Dignus!

At least one of us is still aware of your great Majesty!

And so you dare this senseless travesty?

You make me laugh! I know what you have earned.

None knows better your true worth,

And where it comes from. None on earth.

You think you have returned?

Amen I say, you still know not how far

Away from peace and joy and home you are.

You still have never learned

Of love. But never fear.

I am here.

Midway on my Lenten journey back

On the Feast of Saint Joseph, they offered me chocolate ice cream.

Let down from the sky upon a sheet

Held by the four corners, and laid it at my feet.

I turned it down, clung grimly to my lack

Of worthiness until an angel came

And scolded me in my dream

“You’re wound too tight, you silly dupe!

Show some humility and have a scoop!

Or two.

Lent is not about you.

Precious blood has bought for you this chance.

 Salvation is a dance.”

And so I bowed my head and ate

Humble-pie-flavored ice cream; And it tasted great!