April 27, 2018

REALITY

The wind has disappeared and 

the water is mirror still and the

race is cancelled as we

head back to the dock ....

Peanut butter somehow gets

on the outside label of the jar ….

Coffee stains appear on the cup -

both plastic and porcelain....

We yawn. And it hurts our jaw

sometimes ….

Another surprises us with an

announcement that knocks 

our socks off....

Guilt is hard to shake - sometimes

taking years - sometimes never....

Loneliness hides under chairs, beds,

especially when we’re alone - but

sometimes when we’re in the middle

of a wedding, a funeral, or a crowd....

We get cuts, hemorrhoids, the flu....

We wonder if all this God stuff is

true - or we wonder why God has

blessed us so, so much….

  

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018 

April 27, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“Time  wounds  all  heels.”  

Jane Ace - 1965-1974, 

From Goodman Ace, 

The Fine Art of Hypochondria; 

or, How Are You? [1966]

LYNCHING

There is something in us -

that reminds us - that we can 

be both beautiful and crazy -

helping or hurting one another 

in the same hour or  same day.

It’s right there in the front pages 

of our Bibles - we can  reach for 

forbidden fruit and walk with our God 

in the cool of the evening - and one brother 

can kill one’s brother the next morning. 

There is something in us that tells 

us to build memorials - for those 

who were stoned, shot, crushed, 

gased, lynched, so we never forget, 

“Every person screams  with God, ‘I am!’” 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

April 26, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“There is no crime of which one cannot imagine oneself to be the author.”  

Johanne W. von Goethe  (1749-1832)  

or in Latin from Terence, 

“Homo sum: humani nihil 

a me alienum puto.” 

Variant: “Homo sum: 

humani nil a me alienum puto. 

I am human, 

I consider nothing human 

alien to me”  Act I, scene 1, line 25 (77). 

GETTING OLDER

You know what day of the week 

it is by your pillboxes.

You know it’s Wednesday, 

but actually it’s Thursday.

Your bones and your lungs 

tell you to “Please sit down.”

Someone is always taking 

your favorite seat in church.

Where’s the nearest bathroom?

You can’t find your glasses 

which are on your head.

I just was talking to her on the

phone. Are you sure she died?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2018

April 25, 2018 

Thought for today: 

“When you  betray  someone else, you also betray yourself.” 

Isaac Bashevis Singer [1904-1991]

Painting, Judas 1989

by Janusz Marciniak

SHOE  MAKER

[A Gaelic Tune
and Irish Cartoon]

There's A Fair Tomorrow In The County Clare

There's A Fair Tomorrow In The County Clare

There's A Fair Tomorrow In The County Clare

But What's The Use I Won't Be There

Oh Mother Won't You Let Me Go To The Fair?

Oh Mother Won't You Let Me Go To The Fair?

Oh Mother Won't You Let Me Go To The Fair?

My Fondest Child Oh Please Don't Ask

You're Not Even Ten Or Eleven Years Old

You're Not Even Ten Or Eleven Years Old

You're Not Even Ten Or Eleven Years Old

When You're Thirteen I'll Let You Go

Oh Mother Won't You Let Me Go To The Fair?

Oh Mother Won't You Let Me Go To The Fair?

Oh Mother Won't You Let Me Go To The Fair?

My Fondest Child Oh Please Don't Ask

I'm In Love With The Shoe Maker

I'm In Love With The Shoe Maker

I'm In Love With The Shoe Maker

If I Don't Get Him I Can't Live On

Oh Mother Won't You Let Me Go To The Fair?

Oh Mother Won't You Let Me Go To The Fair?

Oh Mother Won't You Let Me Go To The Fair?

My Fondest Child Oh Please Don't Ask

Gréasaí Bróg

Beidh Aonach Amárach I Gcontae An Chláir

Beidh Aonach Amárach I Gcontae An Chláir

Beidh Aonach Amárach I Gcontae An Chláir

Cé Mhaith Dom É Ní Bheidh Mé Ann

A Mháithrín An Ligfidh Tú Chun Aonaigh Mé?

A Mháithrín An Ligfidh Tú Chun Aonaigh Mé?

A Mháithrín An Ligfidh Tú Chun Aonaigh Mé?

A Mhuirnín Ó Ná Héiligh É

Níl Tú A Deich Nó A Haon Déag Fós

Níl Tú A Deich Nó A Haon Déag Fós

Níl Tú A Deich Nó A Haon Déag Fós

Nuair A Bheidh Tú Trí Déag Beidh Tú Mór

A Mháithrín An Ligfidh Tú Chun Aonaigh Mé?

A Mháithrín An Ligfidh Tú Chun Aonaigh Mé?

A Mháithrín An Ligfidh Tú Chun Aonaigh Mé?

A Mhuirnín Ó Ná Héiligh É

Táim-Se I Ngrá Le Gréasaí Bróg

Táim-Se I Ngrá Le Gréasaí Bróg

Táim-Se I Ngrá Le Gréasaí Bróg

Mur' Bhfaigh Mé É Ní Bheidh Mé Beo

A Mháithrín An Ligfidh Tú Chun Aonaigh Mé?

A Mháithrín An Ligfidh Tú Chun Aonaigh Mé?

A Mháithrín An Ligfidh Tú Chun Aonaigh Mé?

A Mhuirnín Ó Ná Héiligh É