Advent poems written by Sister Kimberly King—former Fifth Class teacher, librarian and resident poet at ASH—invite reflection as we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth.
Sister King now resides in a Sacred Heart community in Nova Scotia. We’re grateful for the sharing of her singular voice on Consider the Lilies.
Advent I, 2014
With bare spread arms and fullness of being
I ache for your coming and praise you already
in the becoming colors where night awakens the sun
with stories and visions and hope.
Where day bows to starlight and promises tales
when next they meet to dance
on the edge of Mystery’s vastness.
–Kimberly M. King, rscj
Advent II, 2014
Where the voice cries, plaintive or piercing,
at the bend of becoming and no return, I am
watchful for the low words
that draw me down center,
that humble me, impassion me,
steady me, move me,
move my light, move my being,
into the here and the now of
the still and the fray of the world,
to proclaim the time
of Love’s incarnation.
–Kimberly M. King, rscj
(words in italics are from Janet Erskine Stuart,
Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart, 1911-1914)
Advent III, 2014
My counter-weight,
my center down,
my metronome, my joy,
my song, my strength,
my fascination,
my hope, my help,
my rumination,
my wonder, awe, best inclination,
grace, cry, laugh, word,
moving me out to the neighborhood;
Born a baby, born of yes,
born to journey, born to bless.
Joy to the world, parumpapumpum,
Hark, herald, welcome,
COME!
–Kimberly M. King, rscj
image: c. Natesh Ramasamy
