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A Poem to Sit With
Twenty-Ninth Sunday
of Ordinary Time
October 21, 2018
J. Janda



Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized
with the baptism with which I am baptized?
(Gospel)

Snow was blinding
and blowing from
a fierce wind
almost obliterating

one of his dogs
curled up on
his sleeping bag

in the basket of
his grocery cart
next to the storefront

and the snow kept
blowing while

another dog was slowly
wagging its tail
and looking up at
him explaining to
the social worker,

  “Ain’t no shelter that
allows dogs and I
can’t part with them

  “don’t worry lady
they plus the sleeping bag
keep me warm enough

  “I got all I need—sure
is cold today, ain’t it”


J. Janda

J. Janda’s poems have appeared in newspapers, magazines, anthologies, and literary publications, as well as in books of his own poetry.
The present poem comes from the Janda's book, In Embrace.
Art by Martin Erspamer, OSB
from Religious Clip Art for the Liturgical Year (A, B, and C). This art may be reproduced only by parishes who purchase the collection in book or CD-ROM form. For more information go http://www.ltp.org