Today: two poems by Patrick Connors

scribbles, image by H G, on Pixabay, slightly modified

Preparation

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power

and the glory and the victory and the majesty,

for all that is in the heavens and the earth is Yours;

Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and Yours it is

to be exalted as Head over all."

                                                 1 Chronicles 29:11

Christmas Eve. The most popular day

of the year for men to go shopping.

Or, at least, the most likely one.

But he has set this day apart to linger

over the pages of a good book or three,

and fill notebooks with words of his own.

He makes a place for the pain

felt and imagined over this past year,

then does his best to make peace with it.

He prepared in advance to be able

to show his family tangible affection.

His reward is not going to a mall today.

Tomorrow will be the time for celebration.

Everyone sharing the table will eat a lot

and drink a little and be very happy.

Today, in awe he ponders the gifts

of joy even in times of sadness,

and faith in new beginnings.

*

Today

"Watch for the new thing I am going to do.

It is happening already—you can see it now!

I will make a road through the wilderness

and give you streams of water there."

                                                  Isaiah 43:19

This morning, I had a cheese omelette sandwich and two cups

of coffee, took a shower, put on my best pajama pants and

a well-worn golf shirt, then logged in to my work laptop.

Today, I had five sales which was better than yesterday

when I only had two, but it still wasn’t enough because

it’s never enough and I felt this was all today was worth.

This evening, I ordered in Wendy’s because that’s what my

Mother and brother like. Although I much prefer Harvey’s,

I knew this was not a real problem and enjoyed my “Baconator.”

Tonight I reflect on how miserable I get over matters

beyond my control such as sales and God’s timing with far

greater blessings. I reach for a Bible and open it to Isaiah 43.

I wonder what hearing these words meant to the captives

in Babylon who had lost everything. I also know this verse

was part of a greater prophecy of the impending arrival of Jesus.

I put pen to paper as I do when what I read resonates with me.

It’s like I have encountered this scripture for the first time.

I sense the excitement of possibility, of new beginning.

I turn on my personal laptop to type the words discernible

from my chicken scratch notes made in the falling darkness.

I smile at my imperfections, satisfied with how the day is ending.

_________________________

Patrick Connors’ first chapbook, ‘Scarborough Songs’ (Lyricalmyrical Press, 2013) charted on the Toronto Poetry Map. He is also the author of several other

books, including his first full collection, ‘The Other Life’ (Mosaic Press, 2021), his most recent chapbook,

‘Worth the Wait’ (Cactus Press, 2023), and his latest

collection, ‘The Long Defeat’ (Mosaic Press, 2024). 

He has been published previously in Spirit Fire Review, as well as The Toronto Quarterly, Spadina Literary Review, Tamaracks, and Tending the Fire.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.j.connors.3

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patjtconnors/

June 2025 issue