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Poem: “The Birch Tree”

The Birch Tree
 

Shale-gray morn
Lace in purse
Thin-paged Missal
Scriptural verse.

Rosary rattles
Scooped from table
Will pray ‘fore Mass
If I am able.

Quiet still
Children sleeping
One more coffee
For my keeping.

Back porch view
Conscience-clear
Trees stand guard
There’s naught to fear.

For like the tree
With anchored root
When heresy-hales
I can dispute…

Hold holy ground
White-surpliced birch
“Anchors aweigh!”
I sail to Church

Hilary McRee Flanery

Hilary McRee Flanery studied Theatre Arts in college at Webster University in St. Louis Missouri, USA. She has been in numerous theatre productions over the last 20 years but her real claims to fame have been "Opening Nights" in leading roles on delivery tables throughout the US Midwest where she has performed and produced ten children.


"Raising a large family and writing means that I set up strict priorities. I start each day with a prayer that has been in my family since God was a boy - 'Come Holy Ghost...give me the faith of your Saints, the courage of your martyrs, and the money and success of your athiests.'"

Hilary and her husband, Randy, have been hapily married for 30 years and are certifiably insane. They know this to be a fact since Randy is a Clinical Psychologist.

The Flanerys reside in St. Louis, Missouri with their 10 children, termites and a large bottle of wine. She blogs at www.hilaryflanery.blogspot.com.