SUFFERING CAN BE.

A NUN AND HER WORDS ON SUFFERING.

Suffering can be
The path to Heaven
Sister Teresa

Said remembering
The coughed up warm blood
Into the once white

Handkerchief held to
The mouth the TB
Already there the

Cold fingers of Death
Invading the soft
Tissue the echoes

Of the nails into
The flesh and cross of
Christ tingling along

Her veins and rushing
Arteries and her
Father’s suffering

Still fresh in her mind
The hammering of
Pain and suffering

Getting louder the
Sins like black ink stains
Spreading out within

Touching distance and
Within reach of ears
And eyes and skin just

Waiting like some death
Disease to enter
In whatever is

Willed and knowingly
Done and known to be
Sinful there the dark

Fingers of evil
Stain suffering can
Be the pathway to

Heaven the young nun
 Sister Teresa
Said softly again.