Select Sunday > Sunday Web Site Home > Spiritual Reflections > A Poem to Sit With
A Poem to Sit With
Thirty-first Sunday
of Ordinary Time A
November 5, 2017
J. Janda

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted
(Gospel).

ER: Diagnostic Imaging

The x-ray films
showed numerous needles—
sewing needles embedded
beneath the skin—
lodged in the soft tissue
of the upper torso
and genital area

  “Doc,” he said seeing
me viewing them
“them are needles—

I used to hate myself
pretty much but I ain’t
done that no more

since I seen the Light”

during the exam
I noticed tattoos
covering his body

on the upper
right quadrant of his
back was tattooed

Jesus is Lord


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