These are the thin days
of Hallow’s Eve, All Saints and Souls
when we offer thanks for those who linger with us
and the souls who come to find us.
Here among us
are the saints-in-making
the challenging one, close by or far away
the incredibly rude one
the smoker all too near
the creepy one with too smooth tongue
the tedious religious one
the facebook friend you wished you never hatched
the annoying one with certain aim
the one who pushes all your buttons.
Yes. Him. Her. Them. Those. The Others.
All souls they are.
Oh November 1, what a day you are
you demand us notice
not just the lovely ones,
not just the saintly-defined-by-us ones,
but all the souls-in-making
even unbearable saints.
We can do other but stand firmly in the day
and wonder (really) how the Light is being shaped
deep within their heart
while being kind in ours.
See also: Who Lingers Close to You (2016) and Shall We Gather at the River
Thanks so much for this poem, Janice. It relates so well to what I’m speaking about on Sunday!
You are welcome. I’m glad it is helpful – Janice
Always beautiful Patricia, thank you for your words of wisdom.
This is just perfect. Thank you for sharing this and reminding us that everyone is a saint in the making.
Hi Janice,
Thank you for the “Unbearable Saints”. So true!
I’ve never seen it from that perspective…thank you.
Ahh, Janice, I really needed to hear this during this week. Thank you and blessings to you!
Janice, thank you so much for this wonderful invitation to see all the souls, all the saints that populate our day to day lives. It is so much easier to focus on those passed on saints since I dont have to deal with them so “personally”.
May I be open to all those Saints in the making I meet today.
Shirley