Ruth Martin

A few of Mari’s Poems

Religious Ghetto

--Mari Donaldson

Within those walls

Of rules and regulations

Traditions… meanings vanished

Lost in ambiguity

I dwelt in slumbered safety

No questions needing to be asked

No choices to distress me

Simply follow on as led

Salvation then a certitude.

But once I dared to look

Beyond the high restricting walls

A different landscape I beheld

Vistas spreading out, encompassing

The whole of God’s creation

Graces never glimpsed before

Enfolding all the universe within the endless bounty of an all inclusive God.

My ghetto walls had promised safety

But smothered me instead

To venture far beyond that safety

Asked that I should

Risk and dare

To face the vast array of choices

To dwell uncertain in the world.

The leap of faith required

Loomed large, so daunting

So I cowered back and wavered

Afraid what price I’d have to pay

Until a hand reached out to me

God smiled… I heard God say

“Welcome to my world.”

JUSTICE

What do I ask?

What are my needs?

A job, some work to do

A chance to learn and grow

So I may give the shelter

Which those I love must have

And food and clothes that are their right.

Should I bow my head, stretch out my hands

In abject supplication?

Awaiting shreds of charity

That slowly, slowly fall, from your too full hands.

Or could I stand with head held high

My dignity intact

Knowing that my needs

Are just the same as yours?

Empower me to be all I can strive to be

My worth is not the outside shell

That you can see

My race or gender, my age or skills

My worth resides

Within my soul

I, too, am a child of God

By Mari Donaldson

JUBILEE

Celebration! Celebration!

What do we celebrate?

A world so often sad?

Its people often hurting?

The rush for gain

The piling up of things?

The world that is

Uncertain, searching

Not often cause for joy?

What do we celebrate?

Gifts that God has given

Promises, age-old, but certain

Wisdom to guide us on

Compassion for God’s creation

Leading us to deeds

Hope to fill the future

With strength and courage

We celebrate our dedication

To the world as it should be.

Mari Donaldson