Elizabeth Padillo Olesen Poems

Filled with fire
to do acts of love
Equipped with wisdom
to enter into dialogue
...

I came to wish to hear the good
I wish to be free from hospital visits
or from more slicing of the flesh.
But the doctor said, 'Yes, you must
...

Celebrate life! Celebrate!
Celebrate life in fellowship
of friends, acquaintances and families!
Celebrate life in wine, food, dance,
...

Food, drinks and presents,
Lavish food and lavish giving
Christmas parties, Christmas delights,
Christmas trees and sparkling lights!
...

We bid you, Jesus,
come into our Jerusalem.
Enter into our hearts
where hatred and bitterness
...

Who can fathom its depth
when it touches the heart
to rejoice and mourn?
...

And they return home
after the quick evacuation
home to their homelessness,
home to the loss of their properties
...

Strange!
A person with great height
and weight is now turned
into an urn of ashes.
...

Honor and glory be to you -
Eternal Father, Creator and Savior!
Accept our humble worship;
...

Music soothes the soul
In silence music rings
to my ears as pure delight.
...