Over the dinner table at Provincial House, we shared many conversations, some serious, some less so. One of the priests, talking about the work of the Salesians here, spoke at one point of “Silent Witnesses” and the gestures they offer. This poem is inspired by that conversation:
Silent Witnesses
These are the silent witnesses
Who stretch out a hand in love,
Who feed the hungry so that they can live
Who teach the young so that they can grow
Who create a space so that you can be you
And I can be me
These are the silent witnesses
Whose message is one of love
That tells the forgotten ones they are not forgotten
And the unlovely they can still be loved
Whose message is shared in a smile
A spark of the joy of life
These are the silent witnesses
Who say there is more to life
Turning away from economic profitability
Trusting rather in human value
Who say
You cannot put a price on love
These are the silent witnesses
Who say
Though I cannot do it all
Yet will I do what I can
Who know they offer only a gesture
But know that gesture is already enough
The gesture that says I care
The gesture that we call love
These are the silent witnesses
This is the silent witness
Arms stretched wide on a wooden cross
With a sigh of lonely abandonment
And a waiting in silent love
We are the silent witnesses
To the mystery of our faith.
These are wonderful words
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you were a poet!
ReplyDeleteThank you Steph, glad you are finding inspiration in your new community; long may that continue. Hope you still have time for reflection and conversation in your new role at the Technology college.
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