ripples in a pond, image by stux, on Pixabay
Music of the Spirit
I never really feel as useful
As I want to be,
But I love that when I sing,
I can offer something good,
Coaxing every note out gently,
Shaping every word
With the care of glassblowing ornaments,
Handcrafting clay into a jar
To hold these lyrics
That mean so much to me,
Though every heartwork is meant
To be released
To a new soul needing to catch it
Like a butterfly
Making them believe
In the potential for beauty.
I hope you feel
More yourself, more seen, more loved,
When you hear
These songs of praise,
And melodies that ache
Of the sorrow that clenches my heart,
Realizing that another friend is always there
To be present in each season,
To hold your hand
When you can’t hold the words
Inside anymore.
There’s a music of the ear,
The tuning and twisting of sound,
Like the TV volume,
And a music of the spirit,
Putting an ear to the ground,
To the heart of life itself,
That everything within you
Knows to be true.
A bird doesn’t truly thrive
Until it falls,
And learns to fly.
*
The Gifts
Faith, hope, and charity,
Heartening us with the life we breathe.
Tongues of fire that give us
Fortitude and belief,
The gift of speech,
Understanding by which to reach others
With mercy.
Knowledge unclouds the mind,
Helping one to find
The wisdom to choose the right path,
To carry the torch,
And counsel others in due course.
Striving for the light
With humility,
One does not fear,
But moves with grace,
Believing in the Lord
With respect and piety,
By which to guide all people
To peace.
*
Seeds of Kindness
Kindness is a seed
Replanted in each heart,
An incandescent light
By which blossoms of hope grow.
Kindness is more
Than the scope of one person,
Beyond what words can tell;
Kindness can only be felt.
Kindness is full-circle,
A stone skipped in the pond,
Setting forth ripples in the world,
Everlastingly.
Indelible,
True kindness
Is never forgotten,
Much like a familiar face,
Recognizable in any crowd.
Kindness is a special gift
Not to be taken for granted,
Coming from the heart,
Sincere and selfless,
Kindness leaves a unique imprint
That cannot be erased.
Kindness renews faith, bringing clarity
That helps us see.
Reassuring as a lullaby,
Kindness is a soothing melody
Instilling peace,
Linking hearts together in solidarity.
Kindness is eternal,
Transcending time and place;
Kindness has a greater impact
Than one could ever know.
Rather than be quantified,
Kindness is measured by love,
Generosity of spirit,
Empathy that is a grace.
No matter how seemingly small, an act of kindness
Creates a foundation,
The soil for a garden,
The essential fabric
For a tapestry of stories,
So that every kind smile,
Word, and deed
Makes a difference.
Life is made better by the balm of kindness,
A remedy
That starts with planting just one seed,
A seed that is moved across vast lands by the wind,
Covering great distances,
And in bridging the gaps,
Touching many,
Innumerable as the stars.
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Kathryn Sadakierski’s writing has appeared
in anthologies, magazines, and literary journals
around the world, including Agape Review,
Bez & Co., Critical Read, Edge of Faith, Ekstasis Magazine, enLIVEN Devotionals, New Jersey
English Journal, NewPages Blog, Pensive: A
Global Journal of Spirituality and the Arts,
Refresh Bible Study Magazine, Snapdragon:
A Journal of Art and Healing, Today’s American Catholic, WestWard Quarterly, and elsewhere.
In 2020, she was awarded the C. Warren Hollister Non-Fiction Prize. She holds a B.A. and M.S. from Bay Path University.