November Season
By Peter Menkin

Mary was a lovely girl, serene; so given to an open heart,
Friend of God like Abraham, seminal archetype welcoming

The Holy Ghost. What comes here November time? Pentecost
Days of spirits and united souls, saints in heaven and memories
Of the dead. “Where sorrow and pain are no more.”
Mystical Holy Ghost.

Steadfast, “mystical body of thy son,” what is the light that shines
Perpetual, for You do support us all the day long.

In mercy we wait, we pray, we believe Holy Ghost:
Mary was a lovely girl, devout and promising woman of sorrows
And joys.

Pentecost, how the Spirit did lead her to obedience
By invitation of an angel of God. Mystical Holy Ghost.

What Spirit is this that leads her to “…the glorious company of apostles…”
we pray in glory everlasting for all souls bask in that light,
Renewing even the spirit of our minds, the Prayer book says.

Mary was a lovely girl, serene, so we turn to her life of joyful service--
Pentecost. In the heavens and on earth, just a phrase that speaks
Of memory where lives eternal lives the wonderfully created, renewed dignity of human nature.

Is this not a cross? The Dead, gone. Remembered this November
Season of reflection and changing season. Follow Him.

Mary was a lovely girl,
And in her joy she has done so, follow him,
now in the company of all the Saints and Apostles.

Audio reading by poet is here:

Reflection on Wellspring
A poem
By Peter Menkin
Revised February 14, 2009


We reflect in words.

The colors of the room
where we go to reflect
are present to the bright
morning time, windows clear to day
letting in much light and largeness
that the privacy of the heart
is awake, more so.
How we are in slumber is noticed during awakening,
and being more alive in the eternal
we grasp time together.

These times allow us with God, to come, go
abide
with knowledge; we are passing through,
journeying with what is given.
That is the renewing sigh of gift.

The season is changing as we come to the end of Pentecost, knowing the
risen Lord.
New living members grow
among the spirit's times, we in quiet pray:
present growing light,
illumine us.
We are in these bodies that are
flesh of man and woman as before time itself;
we know the ancient, and feel our humanity.



Audio reading by poet is here:

Reflection on Wellspring
A poem
By Peter Menkin
Revised February 14, 2009


We reflect in words.

The colors of the room
where we go to reflect
are present to the bright
morning time, windows clear to day
letting in much light and largeness
that the privacy of the heart
is awake, more so.
How we are in slumber is noticed during awakening,
and being more alive in the eternal
we grasp time together.

These times allow us with God, to come, go
abide
with knowledge; we are passing through,
journeying with what is given.
That is the renewing sigh of gift.

The season is changing as we come to the end of Pentecost, knowing the
risen Lord.
New living members grow
among the spirit's times, we in quiet pray:
present growing light,
illumine us.
We are in these bodies that are
flesh of man and woman as before time itself;
we know the ancient, and feel our humanity.



Audio reading by poet is here:

Preacher and Word of Holy Spirit
A poem by Peter Menkin
September 10, 2009

September, days of Pentecost,
What comes here now...?
Sensibly bring to talk about sermons:
The Holy Spirit.

Modern days, 21st Century days
In this State, in this County, in this town;
let’s not speak of religion,
Or faith, or spiritual terms
This post Christian era—
Its despair of no God, Christ(?)

What is: What comes?
Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost—
That Word, the Word,
What comes here now.

Speak in sermon, spontaneously
We say, and mention the work
Of the Holy Spirit in this enterprise
Of preaching, saying from the pulpit,
The lectern, standing before the faithful,
Of Gospel: breathing language.

Tame words, not so--always, but passion
Of history, time, man, Christ
And God, Holy Spirit. Always.

What comes here now...?
I believe, so the preacher preaches,
And he writes or says extemporaneously
Talk driven and meant for listening to & for
Of Pentecost, the tongues of language and flame,
Its working ways come forth! Halleluajah!
Christ is Risen, come Holy Spirit.

Photo by Rick White of Mill Valley, CA USA. A retired travel photographer for TWA, among others, Rick also worked in advertising at noteworthy Chicago agencies as an art director. This recent photograph by him taken Summer, 2009 is titled, "Sunflower."

Audio reading of poem by poet is here:

At the Monastery on Sunday,
Big Sur, California USA
by Peter Menkin

In the now
of time,
many worshipers
come Sunday
to the Church.

The monks in choir,
chant,
singing to God,
and the people
listen, some
speaking the words
in song, too.

Communion comes
to this mountain
where people say God
is present.

I think so, for you
can feel the presence,
and know what years
of prayer and devotion
will do
to a place.

The Pilgrims here
are moved, and the
unusual is made
conscious, for we
are not always
of a mind
to be attentive.

The Spirit is strong
this Pentecost.
Wait to discover
what it means;
convincing Spirit,
Holy Spirit allowing
us to enter into
devotion.

Notes on photo: Rick White, Mill Valley, CA USA titled Wildflower # 13, "Mandala" taken in Arcata, California at his daughter's Wild Chick Farm, an organic chicken raising farm. This photo from one of the meadows.