Of Deserts, Roses, and Water

Father Andy Davy, MIC, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Plano, Illinois, also writes poetry. Here, we share some of his work and his commentaries on that work in the latest installment of a weekly series.

My Desert Rose
In the parched Land
I seek that which gives life.

You, O Water,
Source of my life,
And found naught in Dry Soil.

Alas, my very being suffers annihilation,
For without Water my form crumples to nothingness,
Without Water I am Unman.

Torrents of Fire claim my body,
Without Water they claim my soul.
O Water! Why am I forsaken?

"No," a silent voice stirs,
"You are not forsaken."

"For behold, one among you has cradled my droplets,
Preserved them on her petals
So that you may drink of Me and live,
Even though Dry Death is all around.

"I AM Water,
Source of your life
And source of she who preserves Me on her petals.
Without Me, Death comes to both.

"And yet behold,
It is she who preserves Me for your drink
As I have willed it.

"So come to her
And drink of My Life.
As you are called to Me
Be called to Her.
I will have it no other way."

In the parched Land
I seek that which gives life.

This Lenten poem speaks of my need for Jesus and Mary within my life. It is a poem about Marian consecration: "To Jesus through Mary." I wrote this as a postulant in 2009.