2 Poems by P. C. Scheponik

Sparrow Song

A trinity of sparrows came to me

while I was sitting beneath an oak tree

at a weathered picnic table in the park,

a placid place where I am able

to seek the words that would express

my soul’s deep longing for the caress

of God’s own hand upon its face—

the touch of truth, the feel of grace

loosed in me in bountiful ways.

The perfect moment, time and space

suspended,

as if to wait for beauty and truth to be

blended—

the words to be born—

the meanings bud, the sounds form

their dream petals deep inside.

The way the yolk within the egg resides,

a golden sun that silently hides

‘til it clothes itself in the promise of

feathers, in the purpose of song.

Then breaks free from the shell

to enter the world where it belongs,

for a time to fly, for a time to sing,

like these tiny sparrows so close to me.

I could almost touch; I could almost reach

the truth in their sweet song.


The Understanding

Though I live to write these words on these lines,

they cannot give me life.

They are just a way of holding on to an idea of who

I am.

How I number myself among the multitude of leaves

on the trees, or stars in the sky, or waves in the sea.

Who am I?

Who am I?

How can I be of any significance amidst all I see

of beauty, of beauty’s truth surrounding me

in this world.


Bionote

P.C. Scheponik has published four collections of poems: Psalms to Padre Pio (National Centre for Padre Pio, INC), A Storm by Any Other Name and Songs the Sea has Sung in Me (PS Books, a division of Philadelphia Stories), and And the Sun Still Dared to Shine (Mazo Publishers). His work has also appeared in a number of smaller journals. Most recently he has been published in All the Sins Literary Journal and Adelaide Literary Magazine (Number 7 Volume II June 2017). As well, he was a finalist and winner in Adelaide Literary Magazine Awards 2017 and will be published in the Adelaide Literary Magazine Awards Anthology for 2017.