As you come to the shore
my outstretched fingers
draw you near to
This river unknown

Onward I flow
between your legs
prodding ahead
towards
that
future unknown

I approach The River
both naked and shy
pulled I am into
That river unknown

In its purity absolved am I
to surrender myself to
A river unknown

Together we drift
from our own soledad
Inseparable we pass
One River Now Known.

Through vineyards and valleys
through labyrinth and lair
through essence and act
One River Now Known
 

by Anthony Borrow, S.J.

The cool gentle breeze
of a star lit sky
The glimmering nocturnal
rays of hope from
your face shine downward

Oh night whose
phantom shadows lurk
for no reason at all
except we want them

to be there and to comfort
and to steal away our loneliness
as if in their nothingness
the reality of our own solitude disappears

And so we surrender ourselves

Oh how I long for the night
where even our own hand
seems distant and unknown

The details of our own existence lost

Oh how I long for the night
when Life is born
from an I and a We that become
One in the night
 

by Anthony Borrow, S.J.

O Silent Resurrecting Wind
whose Breath fills This tree
with Song and Dance and Life

O Peaceful Oceantide
who by hypnosis and soothing sway
creates the eternal shhhh!

O Gentle Rains who in the
Gentle Nights of pitter-patter
march to quench my Soul

O Silent, O Peaceful, O Gentle God
whose Life giving Presence thus made known
Sustain me.

Sustain me in this Stormy Night
whose thief-wind comes to strip me bare.
Protect me from the Stormy Sea
whose crashing waves tear me 'part
and leave me 'lone against the shore.

O God
Whose presence thus made known
Sustain me.

by Anthony Borrow, S.J.

Bless the Trees, Great works of the Lord
    With their Hidden roots running deep
Their Hidden histories buried within, within
    Strong and hard (on the outside)
Stable in the flexibility of its roots
    Outstretched branches, Dancing Leaves
Under which I sit in the wind
    Pondering its Wisdom
Its ability to Discern.
     Que Profundidad
        Que Fuerza
           Que Poder
              Que Goza, Que Alegría
                 Que Libertad
                    Que Dichoso es el Arbol
To Balance Between
                    Stiffness and Fluidity
                 Hardness and Softness
              Stability and Motion
           Earth and Sky
        Disclosure and Secrecy
Bless the Trees, Great works of the Lord. Amen.

by Anthony Borrow, S.J.

A man whose life - well lived
A man whose wife - much loved
Who day by day himself does give
in simply, unassuming ways

Who with great joy and peace
does awake and greet
each dawn with humble grace
His laugh and cheer
bring smile to face
His tenderness and warmth
surrounds with soft embrace

His faith and hope unfailing seem
to calm each storm with surety
His wisdom proves a trusty guide
His fatherly care - the safest haven

His love is patient
His love is kind
No limit its forbearance
No limit its trust, hope, endurance

I admire this man
whose example to me
stands Christ-like tall
Courageous, True, for evermore.

by Anthony Borrow, S.J.

"At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36

Lord Jesus hear my prayer
Left, Left, Left Right Left
Time marching right on by
My spirit weak turns and sighs
You alone can hear my cries
While I look into the sky
With your peace I am left
Show me Lord you really care

Show me Jesus if you dare
Your love for me help me see
Beyond these walls, beyond the gate
I need your help in many ways
To guide me through the many days
Hope and peace in me create
To calm that restless inner sea
Suffering, Lord, my heart I bare.

You know me well you share my pains
Frustrated blood runs through my veins
From these deep wounds I hide my fears
Positive feedback from my peers
So much held back inside this cage
Help me restrain the growing rage
Neither friends nor foes can I blame
But take from me this lurking shame.

I hear your voice from heavens
Yes my son you are forgiven
Into your eyes I do gaze
Grant me strength for the next phase
Your love for me is freely given
Your body strewn upon the cross
Embraces and heals my every loss
Serving you I’m freed from Evins.

Amen.

by Anthony Borrow, S.J.

This poem was inspired by the young men at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg, Texas.

My heart is filled with emptiness
as I touch the hollow, cold depths
of this tomb aching, struggling
moaning in the darkness I sit
afraid and alone, loneliness
You have touched me, cold and callous
My heart and blood chilled by your touch
The sepulcher prepared for me

Where is that light so radiant?,
the soul that once fluttered about,
the air now heavy, cold, dreary
Get up my soul and find that life
Oh my loneliness so like death
with your sting so bitter biting

Console me, comfort me, hold me
give life to my tired body,
warm me, my blood moves so slowly
aching, the cold, return to me
where have you gone? My soul lost - turn
that I may see your face again

Oh that peace moves my weary soul
A smile? and now I see the light
in my mind darkness, lonely death
Satisfied with sepulchral songs
singing the chorus rises, falls
Quietly dying to silence

The eyes that give me strength to love,
to find peace alone, now leave me
fading memories - I'm afraid
and cold, lonely, empty, I cry
I cry turn back - return - don't go
But away, go, fly, be free I cry

Just remember me please
I pray forget me not
I pray forget me not
And in the tomb I rest
alone at peace I am
alone yet with this love
you have to me brought life,
and pain, and death, lonely
Done. I sing thee life, peace
my heart doth cry for thee

Doth it swell as I swim
amidst the rising waves
compassionate torrents
emotions building strong
only to fall and crush
and drown my mortal soul
and drown my mortal soul
with compassion so strong

Oh Jesus golden pure
Christ Crucified, you see?
Doves singing - sh listen!
Love never fails you know
My friend hear my words well
Hear the emptiness filled
See hollowness consumed
Coldness warmed, aching soothed

Moaning, Singing, Struggling always!
Alone never, I see your smile
Gentle spring air lonely no more
Life refreshed Faith, Hope, United
Pax et Bonum and Silence now
For the words must fade making room
for those countless silent things seen
heard, understood and unspoken
Alive in the silence. Amen.

by Anthony Borrow, S.J.