Skinner House has issued admire the moon, a mediation manuel by Unitarian Universalist minister and poet Mary Wellemeyer. Mary is parish minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester, New Hampshire. I reprint this poem with Mary's permission in preparation for All Soul's Day.
Some bright morning. . .
Never mind the metaphorical stuff,
this death and rebirth that means
transformation from one phase to another,
one way of being alive in the world
yielding to another.
Never mind that.
Some bright morning when this life is over. . .
When this life is really over
how will it be? How will I know?
That old spiritual has a clue,
a word from the people's ancient memory.
Some bright bright morning when this life is over, I'll fly away.
I imagine a bright spring morning
with misty vapors rising off ponds and farmyards
and leaves of different colors, not yet fully out,
the sun shining steadily above the mists,
the little leaves stirring in the wind,
and the clouds moving across the sky.
Some bright morning
this life will be over, and something
within and beyond
will tell me, call me away.
I'll smile and close my eyes,
the melody of the old song will in my head
and I'll fly, released from this life with joy.
Overcoming colonialism through faith and action.
Beautiful. I've always loved that song.