Valerie is a 42-year-old, single, Reformed Christian lady who lives in Baltimore. She doesn't remember a time
before she knew and loved Jesus, but she does remember accepting John Calvin into her heart in March of 2000.
Valerie is a member of Christ Reformed Evangelical Church in Annapolis.
Though her career aspiration is to be a housewife, Valerie has not yet found anyone suitable who wishes to hire
her for employment in that field (or, more properly, anyone suitable has not found her), so in the meantime she
earns her daily bread working in communications -- editing, writing, print design and website management.
Two Communion Poems
I offer these in the spirit of "anything worth doing is worth doing badly." I spent the past couple days at the Trovatos' house (so much for my determined plans to do housework yesterday) and found Billy Collins's Ballistics, a remnant of Kristy's thesis, having fallen behind the bed where I slept. Reading led to writing, and there you have it. I have no idea what I'm about in this poetry business, so I covet your critiquing!
Beelzebub
Jesus is, in a sense, the Lord of the flies. There is not one small gnat over which He does not cry, Mine!
including the dead one floating in my communion wine on Sunday.
He ordained it and ordained that I would catch it and ordained that I would catch the elder at the back row to exchange the fly in the ointment for fresh Balm of Gilead.
He ordained the buzzing wee beasties my own soul strains against (and the dromedaries in my throat), claims them as His,
and catches me in the back row to offer His clean blood in exchange.
Recognizing the Body of Christ
As the elements are passed I look around and always seek a certain six-year-old face.
Too undisciplined to sit somberly and stone-countenanced,
we swap sister-sinner smiles.
Her gap-toothed grin, His face, His favor.
Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 9:50 AM
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4 comments
4 Comments:
On May 26, 2009 11:11 AMMargaret in VAwrote... I'm no poetry critic so it is not much help for me to say that I liked them both...I especially liked the last one. I remember a certain face, older now, watching her elders with anticipation for just the right time to pull out the paci and pop in the bread - precious!
On May 28, 2009 4:34 PMcoramdeowrote... I love both of your poems. felt a little awkward about the beelzebub title. then googled it and came up with a gnarly looking fly. ha. love it. keep it up.
On August 30, 2009 4:26 PMLarry Whitewrote... Good work, Valerie. Having read your posts on various blogs, I'm not surprised, but delighted, to find your craft well and faithfully displayed in these poems.
