Volume > Issue > Failed Species?

Failed Species?

A POEM

By Ralph Wright, O.S.B. | July-August 1984

For twenty million years or more

This planet fed the Dinosaur.

It makes you sit a while and think

How soon young Man may be extinct.

But though he turn this chip of star

To ash touched from some fine cigar

When all the galaxies are dark

Man still will reign who shares God’s heart.

Pietà

“Does the darkness cradle thee Than mine arms more tenderly?”

— Willa Cather

Boardwalk Fortune Teller

Borne up by priestly hands beyond the dark

The clean oblation of the harvest moon

…

To Phoebe*

Phoebe,

Gentle handmaid

Of us all,

Who assisted Paul

And others

Of the early church,

…