Editor’s Note: Perhaps you subscribed and read along to our Lenten email series, “In Praise Of: Ignatian Letters of Recommendation for the Spiritual Life.” In addition to creating half the original images that accompanied the essays (alongside the fabulous Allison Beyer), the artist Erin Buckley composed the image (above) that we used on the back cover of the eBook and paperback editions of the series. Erin and Allison read each of the essays and then made their art in response.
Now, we’re turning the tables on Erin: We sent poet Mary Grace Mangano the image and asked her to write a poem in response to it. That poem is published here. (Surprise, Erin!)
Praise Enough
The child lies, feet up and stomach down,
Chin cupped by her right hand, not tired at all.
Not tracking time, just noticing the crown
Around the plant bulb, held there in its thrall,
In awe of Spring with all its resurrections—
The trees that, earlier, were empty tombs
But now are visited by angel-men—
No death is here, but free and perfect blooms.
I don’t deserve or earn the daffodils—
Or any of it. Some days, praise will flow.
But even when I think that You’ve been killed—
Still—let me make returns for all below.
Without conditions then, if it is true,
Requited Love. There is no praise enough
That I can give but this: my eyes on You,
All days, always. There is no praise enough.