Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Writing on the Wild Edges: Participant Poems (Julia Morris-Meyers)

 This past October we led one of our Writing on the Wild Edges retreats on the beautiful island of Inismor off the coast of Galway. We will be sharing some of the writing which participants gave us permission to share here in the next few weeks. Up next are poems by Julia Morris-Meyers.

Coming? ?home,? ?Christmas
to? ?dusty? ?high? ?plains
front? ?door? ?opening
smells? ?of? ?turkey,? ?more
stockings? ?bulge,? ?fire? ?lit
smiling? ?parents,? ?happy? ?we’re? ?here.

Twinkling? ?lights? ?beckon
while? ?Dad? ?carves? ?the? ?bird
dear? ?Aunt? ?Dot? ?samples
Mother? ?juggles? ?pans.

Table? ?set? ?with? ?best
crowded,? ?we? ?don’t? ?mind
cold? ?night? ?kept? ?at? ?bay
hearts? ?warm,? ?filled? ?with? ?cheer.

Yearning? ?for? ?those? ?days
long? ?gone,? ?they? ?now? ?are
Dad? ?and? ?Dot? ?are? ?passed
a? ?stranger? ?lives? ?there
high? ?standard? ?to? ?keep
me,? ?I? ?can’t? ?compete
memory? ?my? ?comfort
and? ?love,? ?in? ?my? ?heart.

And? ?after? ?visiting? ?St? ?Ciaran’s? ?sacred site,? ?this? ?haiku:

Rag? ?tree? ?prayers? ?for? ?babe
holy? ?well,? ?seven? ?times? ?‘round
connecting? ?stone,? ?heal

(grandson? ?#2? ?is? ?expected? ?in? ?the? ?spring!)


Julia Morris-Meyers takes great joy in teaching others about the beauty of music, whether it is as choral conductor, organist and pianist, or private instructor.  Through her international travels as an accompanist she has seen the power of music to bring diverse cultures and peoples together and she strives for this goal in all her musical endeavors.  Julia lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and leads contemplative studies, retreats and weekly prayer at her Episcopal church. Her husband and pets provide great companionship and she relishes her new role as “Nana.”

You might also enjoy

Holiness of Work ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims, Tomorrow Simon and I will be joined by guest musician and Wisdom Council member Jamie Marich for our monthly Contemplative Prayer Service. Our theme this month is the 5th principle of the Monk Manifesto. Here is an excerpt from our Monk in the World self-study retreat.

Read More »

Monk in the World Guest Post: Judith Jessop

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Judith Jessop’s reflection on solitude and community. A sabbatical is a precious gift. In my tradition it arrives like clockwork every 7

Read More »

Imbolc and Brigid Blessing ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Imbolc and Brigid Blessing*Spirit of the rumbling ground,help us attune our ears to the renewal taking formbeneath the winter earth,snowdrops and crocusesin white and purple-petaled wonder,hedgehogs and bearsbeginning to stir from sleep.Let Brigid be our guideas we navigate the way from rest to slow emergence,support

Read More »

2 Responses