May 14, 2010

My Journey to God

The Longing

Beyond the gulf of time and space,
Behind the veil of birth and tomb,
We seek the splendor of his face
Inborn before we left the womb.

Within the marrow of all bone
A longing gnaws and seeks release,
A restless, unrequited moan
Unheard, but never meant to cease.

When days have spent their given space
And ever-after needs no chime
We’ll gaze upon his holy face
Without the measurement of time.

By Dorothy M. Colgan

(St. Meinrad parishioner Dorothy M. Colgan of St. Meinrad died on April 15 in Jasper, Ind. She was 93, and had been a longtime poetry contributor to The Criterion’s “My Journey to God” column. This poem was published on her memorial card and in her poetry book titled "The Number Touched Untold." Her poem is reprinted here with permission as a tribute to the unofficial “poet laureate of the archdiocese.”) †

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