Nurturing the
Dance of the Spirit
in Everyday Life
Poetry & Fiction
Sacred Table
They gathered there amidst the struggles of men
In humanness and mystery
The seen and the unseen
Upon the rugged table, unseen, deep crimson flows
Stain creeping into every crevice
Harsh Sticky Clinging
Sin Exposed
The noise of bickering, manipulating, cajoling
Fills the space
Consumed by disbelief and fear
Darkness flowing from the hearts of friends
The closest fall
Three years, he thinks, such little faith
Loneliness fills his soul
Sadness claims his heart
My own sin moves along this sacred table
I weep
Holy hands embrace the cup of reality
The gathered consumed by haunting mystery
Crimson sin fills the cup
Blood poured out for the forgiveness of sin
All sin, my sin, now removed from the table
Taken by his body to the cross
Souls seized in faith unborn
Power sleeping in hearts freed
Familiar wine transformed as blood
Forever the sweetest wine of Love
Margaret W. McCaslin
Illumination
Eyes accustomed to the dark
are oft made blind by heaven's spark.
Each wound and tear lets in the light,
the painful gleam improves our sight
preparing us to take our place
with open eyes
and face to face.
Barbara M. Russo
Epiphany
We could not hear you calling,
we did not know your name --
lost in our transgressions,
lost in all our pain,
The night wrapped all around us,
helpless pawns in evil’s game.
Then you came to give us beauty,
you came to share our bane --
poured out for our offenses,
and bearing all our shame.
We did not know you loved us,
yet you found us just the same.
Released to be your people,
love and death no more in vain --
the bliss of your appearing
cheating earthly strain.
We bless and break and eat you,
your light our brilliant flame.
Barbara M. Russo
© 2021 Barbara M. Russo
© 2021 Margaret W. McCaslin
Each author retains copyrights to their own work