I was sent this remarkable piece the other day, and had to share on here,
as one learning to breathe under water
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I built my house by the sea.
Not on the sands, mind you;
not on the shifting sand.
And I built it of rock.
A strong house
by a strong sea.
And we got well acquainted, the sea and I.
Good neighbors.
Not that we spoke much.
We met in silences.
Respectful, keeping our distance,
but looking our thoughts across the fence of sand.
Always, the fence of sand our barrier,
always, the sand between.
And then one day,
– and I still don’t know how it happened –
the sea came.
Without warning.
Without welcome, even
Not sudden and swift, but a shifting across the sand like wine,
less like the flow of water than the flow of blood.
Slow, but coming.
Slow, but flowing like an open wound.
And I thought of flight and I thought of drowning and I thought of death.
And while I thought the sea crept higher, till it reached my door.
And I knew, then, there was neither flight, nor death, nor drowning.
That when the sea comes calling, you stop being neighbors,
Well acquainted, friendly-at-a-distance neighbors,
And you give your house for a coral castle,
And you learn to breathe underwater.
by Sr. Carol Bialock, RSCJ
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The poem above comes from an unpublished collection of poems from Carol Bialock. Fernwood Press is bringing out the new book on Carol’s 90th birthday this next June. Email me ericmuhr at gmail dot com for a pdf of the manuscript. I’d love to have you read it and write about it / share it with others if you like what you find there. Her poems are powerful!
The Sea:An image of the presence of God, the way he take over our lives
and
The gradual encroachment of the agony we face in this world. Pain
These are both the same thing and gives us images of Death and Reserection
Powerful words Alec. Quite touching, learning to breathe under water. But (of course there are buts) it asks itself a question- Why build a house near the sea? Or is that something as life is, that we are inescapable from? I love the ending too, but I think while learning to breathe under water may seem the final activity- it isn’t, as we can always swim out of the water, as the Saviour Jesus leads us.
We hence learn at least two things; a new technique of breathing under water and help others to achieve that, who are in similar predicament and also to put our total dependence on God, who will make a way for us out of that water.
Beautiful poem, I must confess.
What an awesome piece of work. Words that bring a vivid picture of the whole scene, frightening but very true. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much Alec. This is indeed remarkable. Hugs Rosalie
Such a powerful piece Alec, thank you for sharing it, I’ve not seen it before. Having read it several times, I’m still at a loss for words. It stopped me in my tracks, which powerful writing should. Beautifully written too.
Beautifully written, Alec. It paints quite a frightening picture, too. I’m sorry, Carol, had to meet the sea like that. I think my mom is feeling this way, at heart, right now. My dad passed away on the 29th. They were married 66 years. It would have been 67 on the 2nd of February. Their marriage wasn’t perfect but to lose that consistency and try to find a new direction at almost 87 isn’t easy. It wasn’t easy for me when I lost my little love(daughter after a long fight with cancer complications) and direction in life. I know, God, will make a way for her and I’ll try to help her in her transition. Please keep her in prayer with me.