Eddie Roa Poems

(tanka)
Father John woke up
Roused by a sudden crash
On the kitchen floor
...

I sought shelter from the rain
In frayed book pages
I used to sit at the head of the table
And listened to by all seated
...

Our community
Lies surely on hallowed ground
Nunneries, seminaries
In every street a chapel
...

Whither will we go
I have traveled the low road
And you took the high
Ne'er shall we meet again
...

Shadows now cast east
With somber grays quaking on the grass
It seems only a while t’ was noon
And the sun shone bright
...

Come let us gambol
Trampling down wild flowers
Jumping low bushes
Scraping your knees on sharp thorns
...

The zeal of the crusades
Persists resolutely to this day
Shackling the tractable faithful and
Hounding the wretched infidels
...