Mary Palmer
poet and member of sanctuary community
Dance
Sometimes life
is cruel with mirrors –
and we dance alone
Sometimes filled
with catastrophic chords
and darkness
But sometimes full of light
and the laughter of others.
Through it all, help us
to trust You call the tune
to learn how to move
through our lives with grace.
Healing
Heal those feelings in me
brittle as leaf skeletons
that shatter to touch
those bruised memories
stamped as leaves to mud
those buds turned black
help me forgive
inspire new shoots to flourish
turn gentle to the sun
Amen
Sculptor of stars and dreams
director of the storm
and moods of the sea
breathe words of healing through me
Amen
Forgive us when we disable others
ignore them, turn our backs
refuse to allow for their needs
their difference.
Help us to face our own crippled soul
our own blindness and deformities.
To see with your eyes, the beauty there
and in accepting ourselves, love others.
Amen
Three in one
an eternal knot
bind us to you
Three in one
untangle hard knots
of our own making
Three in one
strengthen our ties
with one another
Amen
all by Mary Palmer, published in ’sanctuary – pocket liturgies’ Proost 2007
Loved the ideas and images conveyed in these poems/prayers – especially liked “brittle as leaf skeletons” – thanks – dave
By: Dave on June 13, 2009
at 11:45 am
thanks for posting this Dadube, I’ve slowly been remembering all the special things Mary gave me, and realise she is an irreplaceable friend. to be honest, it’s done my head in realising she’s no longer here with us
so it’s good to have some words to re-visit
to Mary
“The sun oversleeps this morning,
It’s grey blanket trails across the sky.”
Poem by Jim Hughes
By: subo on June 13, 2009
at 11:52 am
know what you mean su – all far too sudden and i feel the loss being abroad and not even able to attend the funeral
i remember belonging to a creative writing circle with mary based at waterstones and valued her input/insights on what i had written
and looking at the sanctuary book yesterday i was reminded how beautiful her writing was/is…
By: dadube on June 13, 2009
at 2:07 pm
Thanks for posting this Daudbe, we read these at our little service for Mary last Sunday, it felt good to be able to re read her work, pray for her and write poems and prayers for her. In many ways I felt that i was able to say goodbye on Sunday, knowing that she did not have much longer left. She wrote some powerful and beautiful words, we were blessed to have known her, to call her our friend and have her as a member of our community.
I won’t be at the funeral either on Tuesday I’m going to be in Scotland with my sister and new nephew, but am hoping to have a quiet 5 minutes on the beach on Tuesday at 2.30, reading her words, remembering her and giving thanks.
By: soniamain on June 13, 2009
at 9:03 pm
May you enjoy all the peace and love of the Kingdom, and may you continue to bless people with your words. God Bless you Mary. lots lof love, I miss you
By: subo on June 16, 2009
at 1:47 pm
RedHot Writers Some years ago we had a creative writing group at St Matts Mary Rachel Lawrence myself and Gill Dunkerley started it going and a number of people joined who were not churchgoers. It ran for about 4 years and we printed a booklet of a sample from each of our efforts poetry and prose. It was named after the red hot heaters in the upper room Mary reading with her beautiful voice is a special memory.
By: Pat Betts on June 17, 2009
at 6:26 pm
great to see you on the blog Pat, hope you’ll join in and write some posts
I’d no idea you all had a group called RedHot Writers, – do you have any copies of the booklet?
By: subo on June 18, 2009
at 11:04 pm
this work is exceptionally beautiful and very mary.
“those bruised memories
stamped as leaves to mud”
stunning.
By: jonbirch on June 25, 2009
at 1:55 am
Beautiful words…both in the post and in the comments. I feel for your loss.
By: holyfamoley on June 30, 2009
at 3:47 pm
thanks Carol, is all very wierd, Mary is just a massive loss to Sanctuary
By: subo on July 3, 2009
at 2:46 pm