Poem in response to Ordination of Barbara Billey ARCWP written by Suzanne Woitowich, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I am the cloud

I am floating with the wind with my feet bare in the wet grass of the morning

my eyes dazzled by sunlight on the glimmering tips of leaves holding pools

and droplets in the eyes of flowers...

moved by the sound of God in the visions seen on the screen of my minds garden

moved by song, in the voices, in the smiling eyes seen in singing songs and chants

drumming drums and dancing dances-

In the chapel for the ordination of the first woman Catholic priest in our town.

What a momentous occasion with reverberations of hope

 in this morning of beginnings and letting go of endings-

to be a part of ---in unison with other grateful souls- dressed for the occasion.

You and I make the same note, but who is louder and who has the purest tone

the bass or the soprano, the alto or the tenor

the ego rears its ugly head of arrogance and is satisfied by the disruption!

Our need to compete --men and women-

Who is louder and who has the clearest tone,

reveals your fear and my fear and our vulnerabilities and sameness!

My desire for the soft note the reverent harmony is also your desire

I yearn for the awe that comes when brought to our knees in prayer-

an old sound that rattles in my heart breaking open in reverence.

The crack of tears that cry out from me to God

opening my heart of hearts just like yours,

erupting spontaneously with cascades of warm chills

that rattles cages long locked in chains of hurt against dangers,

the crust fragmenting now by trust in love and hope in justice

the earth of my heart quakes

and I let go momentarily in the moment

adoring the disarming- the laying bare of the clear ringing crystal bowl

the balanced note of equality rising to meet the day

my beating heart sings a song of celebration

clear and clean as the bell in the steeple of my church.

Can you hear the sound of the church bells ringing there?

The birds singing in the voices?

The waves washing through our minds in rhythmic breath?

carrying all the debris away away

healing the struggles of yesterday

clearing the way for the morrow

when women walk as Catholic priests!

The bass tenor alto and soprano brought into balanced harmony

and now our voices lighten as we listen to each other...

as we sing

I know when you are softening and when you rise

I hear your bass bravado

mixing with my soprano

sweet balance and harmony is heard and known

my voice lost in yours

dissolving into spirit

resolving the illusion of separation

resolving the illusion of our outward appearances

as men and women

the loudness of the masculine decreases to include the softness of the feminine

and the chorus repeats

All our hearts are heard by God

All our hearts are heard by God

and for today

Grace descends upon the one in our focus

The woman who receives the challenge and chalice

to stand alongside the men in robes

and minister in love and in confidence

with God's blessing...

and now with man's blessing... as well!!!

 

Poem 7/18/2015 by Suzanne Woitowich, a member of the choir
at Barbara Billey’s Ordination, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Member of the choir at Barbara Billey’s Ordination, Windsor, Ontario, Canada