Mary Pondered, Sarah Laughed: Poems

By Thomas Ronald Vaughan

This collection presents poems about the ordinary affairs of human existence: war and peace, love and hate, life and death. In addition, several selections attempt social comment through poetic interpretation of some of the more immediate and weighty issues of our time: race relations, injustice, warfare, domestic violence, murder, human exploitation. Everything here seeks to encourage intentional, serious moral, ethical, and spiritual reflection which, in response, can promote effective and positive social action.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Aug 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781666779783

Thomas Ronald Vaughan

Thomas Ronald Vaughan was a parish minister and healthcare administrator in North Carolina after graduating from Duke University Divinity School. Additionally, he earned a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Ministry. He holds standing in the United Church of Christ and in the Presbyterian Church USA, and has served congregations in both denominations. His publications include poetry, book reviews, a book chapter, and articles in professional journals. His books include, Being Deaf at the Tower of Babel: Poems (Resource Publications), and The Love of God and The Age to Come: No Eternal Hell (Wipf and Stock).

Book preview

AGAPE

Some days it sits in the soul

Like a vulture in dry limbs,

Waiting to rip and tear for sustenance.

Some days it gathers in the heart

Like an earth-wide wave,

Merging, swelling, rolling,

And despite all blemishes and sin,

Makes a violent, devastating crash,

And covers all!

YELLOW COAT

Almost everywhere he went he saw the yellow coat,

Still the right size for an eight-year old.

He had constantly worked away on the novel,

Changing everything but the first line,

You are the one who can save me from myself.

Every word from there was a crescendo,

A waterfall, deep, cold, violent,

Crashing on rocks below,

Exploding into white foam, jagged lines,

And lovely arcs before splashing in the soft pool.

She was there one brief moment,

Now twisted and slicing,

But he did look away, and if only for a second,

Now an eternity, a forever which had already started,

Inhabited daily, hourly,

Every waking minute.

Sometimes under the roaring falls

He saw her, smiling, delicate,

At her childhood ease,

There, in a dainty yellow coat,

Waving to him as she had always done before.

FIFTH FOUL, LAST GAME, SENIOR YEAR

The whistle blows,

You fouled! Put up your hand! You hacked!

It was a touch.

He made the basket anyway.

He is a substitute, and they are far from home,

Losing badly.

Why call it now?

They always do.

He weeps into the towel.

Who fouled who?

THE CHRISTIAN FAR-RIGHT

The Propaganda Pews are full,

Awaiting the indoctrinating sermon,

In which the gentle Gospel Jesus

Changes clothes, mounts a steed,

And with brandishing sword becomes

The Book of Revelation warrior,

Now cutting and hacking and slicing

Rank sinners and blasphemers,

As worshippers salivate in glee.

They then rush out the Benediction doors

To confront and destroy

A Culture which would eradicate them if it could.

With new infused Holy Ghost power,

They will simply laugh it to scorn.

All fear is gone, and again well armed,

Eternally reassured,

They march in lockstep, urging and demanding

Their longed-for and coming Armageddon.

FENTANYL

"I only took one pill!" she claimed,

Her mouth bubbling with foam.

"We did not give it any thought:

Why did I not go home!"

They tried and tried to keep her here.

The Medics plied their trade.

But clanging ambulances knew

The price that would be paid.

The counters click and add and add,

Numb parents sit and weep.

Disguised, the Demon slinks along,

New promises to keep.

ROSA PARKS