All Souls

Mortal ransom shall be paid

and to the earth returned

The sainted ones, in light they shine

eternal glory earned

 

Less blessed souls stay near the veil

longing for that grace

the downfalls of humanity

deny them heaven’s face

 

To every frail and temporal man,

the greatest to the least,

at birth all are invited

to one day join the feast

 

Each day you live, you stitch the shroud

that to this ball you’ll wear

and placement for your seating

will be whispered on a prayer

 

The dance will be no petty waltz

of lead and follow roles,

each partners with his echoed deeds

at this Feast of All the Souls

Author's Note

All Saints and All Souls... we all join the party sooner or later...

Reviews

[NeiL ArandA]

Wow Ms Rita, This is very different. This is heart penetrating . I like every paragraph and lines. The second paragraph however really struck me. You caught and express here the fall of man and their desperate need of redemption. And that so amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me. Rita your went from simple poems to so deep piece. I am very intrigue about you ... I'll be watching you from now on :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Neil, I truly appreciate your read and thorough review of this piece. Sometimes the deeper thoughts come, and they appear on the page... Thank you, my friend. :)

[Frieda P]

'Echoed deeds' that rung out the loudest in this poignant piece Rita, so true....

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Frieda... our deeds can warm us or haunt us in hindsight...

[Frieda P]

Truer words have never been spoken or typed ;-) My pleasure Rita....

[Pryde Foltz]

This is an amazing and timeless piece, Rita.

[Rita L. Sev]

Much appreciated, Pryde.

[icelandicblue]

Today is All Souls Day and the first Friday to boot. I like this poem a lot it looks at our inevitable demise as the ascendance of our souls rather than the destruction of our bodies. it's really quite beautiful Rita.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much, Blue! We are so much more than this mortal coil...

[Sheila Kline]

I don't think I could possibly read a more fitting tribute nor description of All Soul's Day!! We are all given the opportunity to be seated at the banquet table or not, and it is what we do, how we respond to the invitation that will determine whether we shall lead, or follow. Those who are Saints are considered Saints by the way they have responded to the call. There is some discussion as to who are the Saints - only those sanctioned by the church, or all who receive eternal grace in Heaven.

I pray for the souls of those who have gone before me, and welcome the intervention of the Saints - though no longer a practicing Catholic, I shall always embrace many of the beliefs!

A beautiful write that is going in my favorite file as a remembrance to those I pray for and to!
Your form and rhyme is also very well done!!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments, Sheila! Teaching Catholic theology, we say that the "Communion of Saints" includes all those in heaven (canonized or not), the souls in purgatory who await heaven, and the faithful on earth, whose goal is heaven. Personally, I am a big fan of the saints, who lived real lives and kept their faith through it all. :)

[Angel]

My reservation has been made for me
And I'm trying hard to keep my wedding garment nice and clean...
And keeping my lamp filled with oil and the wick trimmed....

Thought provoking write Teacher!!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Angel - yes, keep that lamp trimmed and burning!

[Dr. Wood ?]

I am at this very moment preparing my garment....But I have to first earn my place.....Great flowing poem Rita....Ah, we humourists.....what an odd bunch we are

[Rita L. Sev]

Yes, even the serious topics have a lighter air... :) Thank you, Doc.

[Dr. Wood ?]

we are the best...keep saying that....For WE can do HUMOUR...the hardest write of all

[Will]

A new take on a very interesting concept. The poem itself gave me chills, very nicely rhymed and good flow. I'm curious, have you ever read 5 People You Meet in Heaven?

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Will. Read it, and saw the movie. A moving and thought-provoking work.

[Will]

Definitely. I'm yet to see the movie, but the book is one of my favorites.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i wonder what it really takes to get there...i don't think it is the talk, it is walking the walk...

it is being the one who is there for another, always.

the one who thinks of others before him or herself..

those who are selfish, ungiving...they will lie by the threshold...for eternity..outside looking in.

[Rita L. Sev]

And that will be their hell... Gracious is as gracious does... Thank you, Jacob.