11 December 2024

Today's Sermon

 Today's Sermon

Don't worry, friends, I am not prompting you to write a religious sermon.  So you can all breathe a sign of relief. Smiles.

What I want you to do first is read this poem Today's Sermon by Cheryl Dumesnil.  If you go to the link, you can hear her read it as well!


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TODAY’S SERMON

is slop buckets knocking 
against each other

and a towel cart 
squeaking down the hall

and grease stains 
worked into cracked palms.

Today’s sermon is
red-wing blackbirds

dive-bombing a raven
with yolk on its beak.

Today’s sermon is 
spring leaves as tiny 

soldiers receiving 
soot with open hands.

Today’s sermon is 
a fifteen-dollar 

garage sale bike 
and now the kid

can ride to school
like everybody else.

Today’s sermon is
dragging grace around

like a rust-eaten wagon
pretending it’s whole.

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Then reflect on what you could write using the title "Today's Sermon."  Think of everyday things, or things that are not so everyday.  Let your mind wander.  Try to write in short stanzas as the author does and repeat the words "Today's sermon" a number of times in your poem.  

I look forward to reading your 'sermon' --oops -- reading your poetic thoughts!

When you have written your poem, link it into Mr. Linky below.  Leave a comment, if you have any thoughts.  And visit other linkers who post during the week.  Mr. Linky will close Sunday night at 8 p.m. Eastern time.


13 comments:

  1. Hello Everyone! I am hoping that my prompt this week will inspire some interesting writing. Looking forward to reading your words!

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  2. Thank you for the interesting prompt Mary - Jae

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  3. This is a very fun prompt, Mary. I love the example poem, and the entire premise of finding something notable in the everyday, something poets are so good at. I especially love "dragging grace around like a rust-eaten wagon", which makes me think of my ancient rust-bucket car, a marvel of perseverence.

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    1. I love the poem, too, Sherry! And I enjoyed reading what you wrote to it!

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  4. A lovely prompt Mary. I enjoyed writing to it. It's already late here. I hope to catch up with others tomorrow morning.

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    1. Nice to see you, Sumana. Your poem was beautiful!

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  5. My text, sisters and brethren, shall be revealed in the fullness of time. :-p

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  6. Mary, I loved this prompt and needed to contemplate my sermon of the day.

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  7. Mary asked me to explain what some of the terms in my poem mean. I now have added this to my post. Thanks for reading. Suzanne - Wayfaring - Wordpress blog

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