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Invitation to Poetry: Ode to Animal Wisdom

Welcome to Poetry Party #47!

I select an image and suggest a theme/title and invite you to respond with your poems or other reflections.  Scroll down and add your responses in the comments section below. Feel free to take your poem in any direction and then post the image and invitation on your blog (if you have one) and encourage others to come join the party! (permission is granted to reprint the image if a link is provided back to this post)


Today is the Feast of St. Francis, the wonderful mystic who saw the wonder of God in all of creation.  He is perhaps best known for his Canticle of the Sun where Francis expresses deep kinship with nature by regarding sun and moon, the four sacred elements, and even Death as siblings.  On this day, many churches offer blessings to our companion animals as a way of honoring how integral they are to our lives.  At 13-years old our rescued Weimaraner, Abbess Petunia, has been showing signs of her age.  However she still offers me daily wisdom in learning how to simply be present to the truth of this moment.  Part of the wisdom of creatures for me is in their sheer otherness and willingness to enter our lives with such exuberance.

I invite you for our Poetry Party this week to write an Ode to Animal Wisdom or your own Canticle of Creation!


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Monk in the World Guest Post: Michael Moore

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Wisdom Council member Michael Moore’s reflection on Sabbath and Silence. I am thankful to Christine and the Abbey community for this opportunity

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51 Responses

  1. my “son” is my sun
    he inspires me to do things I would not do
    walk among strangers
    take time to be aware
    laugh and play
    see the world though a child
    live a day at a time
    give love to those in need
    it is the dog’s way