Saturday, December 31, 2011

RESURRECTION


As the old year ends and the promise of a new one lies before us, think upon Evelyn's exultation of Christ's Easter fulfillment.

The hour has come to pour the Easter wine

Upon the altar. Let its red flow bright

Upon the altar cloth, the brilliant white

That ever tombs a sainted relic mine.

The hour has come to free the prisoned Host.

Lift up your tongues, and let its message rest

In whiteness on their red. The holy test

Has been fulfilled. Christ has surpassed His boast!

The shrouded skies have lost their deadliness;

The sepulchre surrendered its chaste prey.

White chimes are tinkling immortality.

His hour has come Who walked upon the sea.

His hour has flamed, exalted by duress.

The Risen Christ proclaims it Easter Day!


Evelyn Coffey

Friday, December 30, 2011

Serenade




Tonight

I was bereft of light

as a bird

bereft of wings

lies aching.


Upon a thousand strings

music spread his wings,

vibrant with words unheard,

clef on radiant clef awaking.


Strung on air,

my heathered hair

uprode the night,

a myriad gong

sprinkling the flight

of song.

Evelyn Coffey

Thursday, December 29, 2011

To Duane


(Because I want him to make music again)

Scarlet there

The heart lies,

Bright with song.

Sing!

More than fair,

Sight sighs –

Fairer than song,

Sing!

White weep

The fingers

Where lingers

In bright sleep

The song.

Forever

Is never

Long.

Sing?



Evelyn Coffey

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Sonnet


Resplendent with the dew of early day,

An apple tree arose, its blossoms white

Against a moving sky, cloud-swept and bright

Earth’s rooted chalice, sprung from plastic clay.

My spirit drank the wine from beauty’s lips

As ardently as dawn embraces night,.

Impetuous, like storm waves tumbling ships.



Evelyn Coffey

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Security

(A Meditation on the Painting of Soldier-Artist H.H.)

There . . .

Only . . . there

At Your Feet

I lie,

I kneel,

I wait. . .

Needing You,

My God!

Others where?

None so sweet

My sigh

To heal

As O great,

Bleeding You,

My God!

Yours to bear!

Your Heart’s beat

Did die,

Did seal

It’s fate,

Binding You,

My God.

Ours to share!

At Your Feet

Men lie,

Men kneel,

Men wait . . .

Finding You,

My God,

Only There!



Evelyn Coffey

Monday, December 26, 2011

To a Violet in Autumn


The forests are flaming now.

the quivering bough

Is shedding each reluctant leaf

whose golden, brief

song is ending.


Bending

in the mire

of mud and fire,

Scattering the deep-

huddled sheep

on the earthy floor,

looking for

an unforgotten spring,

I found a ring

of purple clay –

a ring of clay

that once wore stem and petal!


This sodden metal,

dank and soft,

sent aloft

the first white springing wind

pale perfume, thinned

in April rain.


Sleep out of pain,

Violet …….. sleep!



Evelyn Coffey

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Jingle

A light hearted Christmas wish from Evelyn to all of us.

Christmas bells

Roll "fare-thee-wells"

Along snow thoroughfares.

Christmas chimes

Cheer troublous times

With holly-threaded airs

Christmas hearts

Are open marts

For love on time or shares.


Evelyn Coffey

Saturday, December 24, 2011

The Lamb Speaks

( A rare draft-in-process, but even in this form, appropriate for Christmas Eve. Evelyn's faith was her life, evident in this tender account.)

I am the lamb who breathed upon

The Infant Jesus when His Mother

First placed Him in the hay-spun C crib

I snuggled close to Him. He looked

Quite lost in that rough heap of grass; .

But as I watched, I thought the hay

Itself clung closer to His frame,

Caressingly.

The Baby’s eyes

Caught the reflection of a star

Of giant light that hung above

Our The roof at midnight’s hour,and laugherd. and He smiled.

It started all the temple bells

To ringing, strange wild sounds that shocked woke

The peaceful countryside.

Poor Some shepherds

Came running ; and they fell upon

Cold-tightened knees before His face.

It was a wonderment. to them:

This beauteous Child, His Mother’s charm,

His Father’s care-worn countenance,

Submerged in joyful thought.

I was

So young that I could only breathe

My warmth into His bed. I could

Not kneel and pray as all the others

Were praying.

Once He reached His hand

Over the side of His wooden cradle

And rubbed my wool. I snuggled closer

Then, grateful for His gentle touch.

I played

With Him while angels sang. I watched

While Kings brought Him their gifts. I was

Gentle with Him, and Mary kept me in

Their home as Jesus grew.

The God-Man

Cherished my memory by making

A lamb the symbol of His love.

(back reads:

Evelyn Coffey

Dr. Adler’s Prosody

Dec. 5, 1934

Narrative)

It was marked “read”, which meant that he wanted it read in class, and “Skyline” which meant he wanted to publish it in the Skyline journal.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Rondel


Ship, take me out to sea with you

now, while the riding waves are high.

A purple cloud hangs in the sky

below a sheaf of white and blue.


I’ll add a sailor to your crew,

a merry one, you can’t deny!

Ship, take me out to sea with you,

now, while the riding waves are high.


I’ll chop the foam that stains your view;

I’ll make the hidden anchors fly.

I’ll steer your course. I’ll even try

to calm the mad wind’s hullabaloo.

Ship, take me out to sea with you,

now, while the riding waves are high.

Evelyn Coffey

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Rime Royal


She wore a lace medallion on her breast,

Of shimmering pallor in petaled design.

Chaste threads on perfumed flesh were pressed

As tenderly as chalices align

Slim hosts upon an incandescent shrine.

Your heritage indeed is richly blest,

Dear flower, to win that coveted arrest!


Evelyn Coffey

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

To our new President


hope now

hope is on

hope for home-lost

God-lost

men

spring now

january spring

ground-burst

snow-burst

star-burst

spring

heart now

heart first

heart high

whole world spring

dread no

space-bar

moon-band

blood-block dark

light Light

heart full

free full

love now

love is in

(marginal notes scribed:

Written January 15, 1961 Sunday night

AMDG JMJ

With the inspiration of our Blessed Mother


Evelyn Coffey

Monday, December 19, 2011

Solitude

My internet was down a few days, so I was unable to post. Yesterday was Evelyn's birthday.

I am not lonely

In the shadows,

Whose velvet touch

Folds me close.

I am not lonely

In mad storming,

When silver waters

Brush my face.

Not lonely then,

But only

When the red sun

Of your eyes

Glares upon the nakedness

That is my soul.


Evelyn Coffey

Friday, December 16, 2011

Reminiscing

Burn, old moon,

Your sparkling tune

Upon my graying heart.

I have played,

To music swayed,

With all youth’s zestful art.

Now, day done,

Echoes of fun

Are rayed from memory’s mart


Evelyn Coffey