Yesterday, we had a baptism in church, and I found myself thinking of the significant moments of the liturgy in terms of haiku. One thing I love about haiku is its ability to capture an instant of time or a fleeting but significant emotion.
Except for the first one, I'm not entirely happy with these as poems, but I decided to share them anyway. ( I have another set of haiku that I like much better here: Haiku of the Incarnation.)
Logan's scrunched-up face,an attempt to keep sleepingas our priest takes him.Water on forehead,name of Father, Son, Spirit,child's eyes pop open.Then comes the chrism,cross of holy-scented oil,mark of adoption.To the front of church,and face the congregation.All applaud welcome.
18 comments:
lovely.
It is lovely. Life is like a poem in so many ways.
Thanks!
I think it's a wonderful haiku! Different from the Incarnation haiku, but worthy in its own right. I hope you will give a copy to Logan's parents and godparents.
Oh Ruth- how beautiful!
Beautiful! I wish my church did infant baptism.
Clever! :)
~*
Great poem, that.
One of the things I miss - one of the FEW things I miss - about my old church vs. my chosen faith is this. We don't do baptisms, and I always enjoyed watching those, even for the children of strangers.
Something very uplifting and hopeful about the whole thing.
Yes, great way to capture the moments. I don't think I ever really considered the function/nature of haiku before, but you've expressed it well.
Ruth just beautiful!
I relived some of my own similar memories.
Is there anything you are NOT brilliant at? :o)
I think you did an excellent job! You captured the nuances quite well I believe. :)
Ruth, I love this! As a Baptist, we are not Christened and this gives me a good perspective on this.....and a beautiful one.
For your history writing assignment: "They had this war; people got poor; them some got mean; and they had another war."
Brevity, the soul of wit.
(We do we cash in the saved other 884 words?)
--Ship passing in the night.
Hi anonymous and welcome.
That's a pretty funny summary. I don't think it would cut it with the textbook people, but I enjoyed it. Thanks.
ruth,
very, very cool!!!
Great haiku, I always love this form of poetry. I was doing a lot of haiku for awhile - reminds me to go back to it! Mine weren't as spiritual as yours though - I do political haiku!
Your images and gestures expressed the blessed moment. Wonderful!
Ruth, so very beautiful. I hate to miss all you've written while I've been gone, so I'll try to backtrack in the next few days.
Wow, Ruth, just lovely. I like the last line, "All applaud welcome." That is a wonderful reminder that it isn't just about the newly baptized, but about the entire community of Christ's church.
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