Limbo Isn't Limbo Anymore

FOR SALE A PROPERTY
DREAMED BY MEN
IN LOVE WITH GOD’S JUSTICE
IMITATING HIM WITH OLD TESTAMENT VIGOR

LIMBO MEANS EDGE OR BORDER
NEITHER HEAVEN NOR HELL
A PLACE WHERE ONE MIGHT FEEL EMPTY
AND NOT KNOW WHY

BUT GOD’S LOVE IS GREATER
THAN OUR ABILITY TO COMPREHEND
AND THE FENCE THAT DIVIDES
HEAVEN AND HELL
HAS BEEN MOVED

AND CHILDREN
WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE
ARE RUNNING
WHERE THEY HAVE ALWAYS RUN
ON GOD’S GOLDEN STREETS

Nursing Home Visit

I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD

WHO IS THIS WOMAN
THAT TENDS MY HANDS
AND ASKS ME QUESTIONS
ABOUT HOMES I SHOULD REMEMBER

SOMETIMES THE SNOW WHIRLS
AND BLOTS THE LANDSCAPE OF MY HORIZON

WHO IS THIS WOMAN
THAT PRATTLES ON

I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD

THE SNOW TWIRLS
THE SNOW WHIRLS
THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGED
IN ITS PASSING

WHO IS THIS WOMAN
DOING MY HAIR

I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD
AND A MESSAGE THAT MUST BE TOLD

BUT THE SNOW WHIRLS
THE SNOW TWIRLS

I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD


FRANK A VOLLMER

Requiescat Mum

IN NEWFOUNDLAND
WHERE MOM WAS BORN
THE CEMETERIES IN THE COUNTRY
ARE SURROUNDED BY FENCES

THE ANIMALS EAT THE GRASS
FLAT
AROUND THE FENCE

BUT THE CEMETERY ITSELF
IS ALLOWED TO GROW WILD

I THINK IT'S A NEWFIE WAY
OF TELLING US

WHAT IS IMPORTANT

WE BURIED THE BODY OF MIRIAM
BUT WE DID NOT BURY MIRIAM

SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN WHEN SHE DWELT IN HER BODY

WE HONOR THAT BODY
WHICH GAVE US BIRTH
NURSED AND CARED FOR US
TAUGHT AND ADMONISHED US
HUGGED US
SCOLDED US
LIFTED US UP
AND SET US FREE

WE HONOR THAT BODY

SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN SHE EVER WAS
ALL THE QUESTIONS OF HER QUESTING MIND
ARE ANSWERED

AND WE WOULD DISHONOR HER MEMORY
AND HER TEACHING
IF WE ALLOWED SORROW
TO OVERWHELM US COMPLETELY

MOM WOULD RATHER WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING

AS HARD AS IT MAY BE FOR US NOW
MOM WOULD RATHER
WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING


SO WE SEND MOM'S BODY TO THE ELEMENTS
TO BECOME
EARTH
AIR
FIRE AND WATER

AND WE SHALL LEAVE
SADDENED BY HER PASSING

BUT ON HER BIRTHDAY
BE AWARE
OF A CURTAIN
MOVING IN THE WIND
OR THE SUN
SHINING ON A CLOUDY DAY
AND HEAR A VOICE IN YOUR HEAD
SAYING

I AM AT PEACE
ALL IS WELL
TELL THE WORD

Naming the Hours

MATINS

TODAY WE HAVE THE NAMING OF HOURS
AS OUR DAY BEGINS
WITH THE NURSE WAKING US
TO TAKE OUR TEMPERATURE
AND OUR PULSE
WE HAVE GREETED THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
ALL AROUND I HEAR
SORRY TO WAKE YOU
A LITTLE HIGH THIS MORNING
A LITTLE LOW
TAKE THIS MAGIC PILL
TO MAKE IT RIGHT
AND WE BEGIN THE DAY
BY TRYING TO GO BACK TO SLEEP
BUT NOT BEFORE I THINK OR SAY

LET THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED, BOTH NOW AND FOREVERMORE. FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN
TO THE PLACE WHERE IT SETS, THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED.

LAUDS

NOW IT BEGINS
THE WAKE UP CALL WITH BREAKFAST
AND THE MAGIC PILLS AGAIN
AND TEMPERATURE
AND PULSE
BRIGHT WITH PROMISE
WE BEGIN OUR DAY

O LORD, OPEN MY LIPS, AND MY MOUTH WILL DECLARE YOUR PRAISE

IN THE MORNING, O LORD, YOU HEAR MY VOICE; IN THE MORNING I LAY MY REQUESTS BEFORE YOU AND WAIT IN EXPECTATION

SATISFY US IN THE MORNING
WITH YOUR UNFAILING LOVE,
THAT WE MAY SING FOR JOY
AND BE GLAD
ALL OUR DAYS

THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH
AND MY SHIELD;
MY HEART TRUSTS IN HIM,
AND I AM HELPED.
MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY
AND I WILL GIVE THANKS TO HIM IN SONG


PRIME

WE ARE ASKED TO BEGIN THE DAY’S WORK
WHETHER RESTING OR HEALING
TESTING OR EATING
SLEEPING OR STARING AT THE WALL
BUT FIRST WE WASH
OR OTHERS WASH US


CLEANSE ME WITH HYSSOP,
AND I WILL BE CLEAN; WASH ME,
AND I WILL BE WHITER
THAN SNOW

TERCE


COFFEE BREAK TIME
NO ONE HAS EVER CALLED IT THAT
A MID MORNING RECOLLECTION
OF WHO WE ARE

THE LORD WILL SUSTAIN HIM
ON HIS SICKBED
AND RESTORE HIM
FROM HIS BED
OF ILLNESS

RESTORE TO ME
THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION
AND GRANT ME
A WILLING SPIRIT
TO SUSTAIN


SEXT


WE GIVE THANKS FOR OUR FOOD
AND ITS DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
NO SUGAR ADDED
OR NO SALT
BUT THE PORTION LOOKS INCREDIBLY SMALL


BE ALERT
FOR YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL
PROWLS AROUND
LIKE A ROARING LION
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE
TO DEVOUR

HE GIVES FOOD
TO EVERY CREATURE
HIS LOVE ENDURES
FOREVER


HE RAINED DOWN MANNA
FOR THE PEOPLE TO EAT HE GAVE THEM
THE GRAIN OF HEAVEN MEN ATE THE BREAD OF ANGELS
HE SENT THEM
ALL
THE FOOD
THEY COULD EAT


NONE


TEMPERATURE AND PULSE TIME AGAIN
THE GATHERING OF THE ENDS OF THE DAY
MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR SUPPER
PERHAPS A NAP
A QUIET RESTFUL TIME
A TIME TO SAY



BUT I HAVE STILLED
AND QUIETED MY SOUL
LIKE A WEANED CHILD
WITH ITS MOTHER
LIKE A WEANED CHILD
IS MY SOUL WITHIN ME


YOUR SUN WILL NEVER SET AGAIN
AND YOUR MOON
WILL WANE NO MORE
THE LORD
WILL BE YOUR EVERLASTING LIGHT
AND YOUR DAYS OF SORROW WILL END


VESPERS


WE HAVE WASHED OUR FACE FOR EVENING
WE’VE HAD OUR TEMPERATURE AND PULSE TAKEN
A FINAL ROUND OF PILLS
A CERTAIN SENSE OF SADNESS
AT THE END OF THE DAY
A CERTAIN SENSE OF FRIGHT
AT THE COMING OF THE NIGHT
A CERTAIN SENSE
OF BEING HELD IN GOD’S HAND

O LORD
I CALL UPON YOU;
HASTEN TO ME GIVE EAR TO MY VOICE
WHEN I CALL TO YOULET MY PRAYER RISE UP
LIKE INCENSE BEFORE YOU, THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE!SET A GUARD, O LORD
OVER MY MOUTH KEEP WATCH
OVER THE DOOR OF MY LIPS


THE LORD
WILL SUSTAIN HIM
ON HIS SICKBED
AND RESTORE HIM
FROM HIS BED
OF ILLNESS



COMPLINE


IT’S TIME FOR GOING TO BED
THE LORD GRANT US A PEACEFUL
PAIN FREE NIGHT
AND LET US WAKE UP SINGING


I WILL BOTH LIE DOWN
AND SLEEP
FOR YOU ALONE
O LORD
MAKE ME DWELL
IN SAFETY


KEEP US O LORD
AS THE APPLE OF THINE EYE
PROTECT US
UNDER THE SHADOW
OF YOUR WINGS
THE LORD BE WITH US
AND ALL OUR ABSENT
BROTHERS AND SISTERS

AMEN SO BE IT AMEN


FRANK A VOLLMER

A Day Like This

A Liturgical Playlet

REFRAIN: WHEN WERE YOU HUNGRY OR NAKED OR POOR?
WHEN DID YOU ASK FOR WATER?

I WAS AT DACHAU AND AUSCHWITZ
I AM AT HANOI AND SAIGON
I AM BURIED IN EGYPT AND ISRAEL
I AM SICK OF WAR
.

I STAND WITH HUNGRY EYES
AND WATCH SURPLUS FOOD GO UP IN FLAMES
I AM A MIGRANT WORKER'S CHILD
STARVING IN THE LAND OF PLENTY



I AM THE BASTARD CHILD OF A BASTARD CHILD
I AM GHETTO BRED WITH TORCH AND STONE
NO ONE LISTENS UNLESS I AM VIOLENT
NO ONE CARES UNTIL THEY FEEL MY HATE


I AM AN OLD PERSON IGNORED AND ALONE
I AN A YOUNG MAN IN THE GUTTER ON DRUGS
I AM THE CHILD TAUGHT HATE BY MY ELDERS
I AM LOST AND DO NOT KNOW THE WAY


IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS

THAT I WAS HUNGRY
A DAY LIKE THIS THAT I WAS POOR
A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN I TRIED TO HELP
A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN MY CHURCH BEGAN



IT NIGHT HAVE BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN IT ALL BEGAN
A DAY LIKE THIS
WHEN HE NAMED PETER... ROCK
WHEN HE GAVE IT BIRTH
KNOWING THE BIRTH PAINS WOULD NOT CEASE TILL IT WAS DEAD
TWELVE DIFFERENT MEN IN AGE AND WISDOM
TWELVE DIFFERENT MEN IN DREAMS AND HOPES
TWELVE DIFFERENT MEN RECEIVING TRUTH
TWELVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF TELLING IT BACK
TWELVE DIFFERENT MEN


IT NIGHT HAVE BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS
THAT SATAN TIPTOED UP
"DUMMY
ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT AGAIN

ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES
YOUR FATHER DID
ARE YOU GOING TO FOUND A CHURCH?"
AS USUAL SATAN HAD SHOWN GOOD SENSE
HE'D TOLD THE TRUTH
FOR EVEN CHRIST WAS FINDING FAULT

WITH WHAT HE SAW

I DO NOT WANT SACRIFICES BUT KINDNESS

MATTHEW 12


THESE PEOPLE HONOR ME WITH THEIR WORDS
BUT THEIR HEART IS REALLY FAR FROM ME
IT IS NO USE FOR THEM TO WORSHIP ME
BECAUSE THEY TEACH MAN MADE COMMANDMENTS
AS THOUGH
THEY WERE GOD'S RULES

MATTHEW 15


THEY FIX UP HEAVY LOADS
AND TIE THEM ON MEN'S BACKS
YET THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO LIFT A FINGER
TO HELP CARRY THESE LOADS

MATTHEW 23


YOU ARE LIKE WHITEWASHED TOMBS
FINE ON THE OUTSIDE
BUT FULL OF DEAD MEN'S BONES

MATTHEW 23


I HAVE NOT COME TO DO AWAY WITH THE LAW
BUT TO GIVE IT REAL MEANING

MATTHEW 5

THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED
TURNED OUT TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT STONE

MATTHEW 21


MY WEDDING FEAST IS READY
BUT THE PEOPLE I INVITED DID NOT DESERVE IT
GO OUT INTO THE STREETS
AND INVITE WHOM YOU FIND

MATTHEW 23


SO HERE WE ARE
WALL FLOWERS OF THE LORD
THE LATE COMERS
THE PEOPLE HE INVITED
WHEN NO ONE ELSE WOULD COME
WHAT WERE SOME OF HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT HIS CHURCH
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE RULES


YOU HAVE HEARD IT WAS SAID
LOVE YOUR FRIENDS HATE YOUR ENEMIES
BUT I TELL YOU LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU

MATTHEW 5

WHEN YOU PRAY SAY
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
MAY YOUR NAME BE KEPT HOLY
MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME
MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US TODAY THE FOOD WE NEED
FOR GIVE US THE WRONGS THAT WE HAVE DONE
AS WE FORGIVE THE WRONGS THAT OTHERS HAVE DONE US
DO NOT BRING US TO HARD TESTING
BUT KEEP US SAFE FROM THE EVIL ONE

MATTHEW 6


IF ONE OF YOU WANTS TO BE GREAT
HE MUST BE A SERVANT OF THE REST
LIKE THE SON OF MAN
WHO DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED
BUT TO SERVE
AND GIVE HIS LIFE TO REDEEM MANY PEOPLE

MATTHEW 20

DID HE NOT KNOW WHEN HE LOOKED PETER IN THE EYE
THAT HE WAS A MAN
COULD HE NOT HEAR THE DISTANT ECHO OF COCK CROW
WAS HE NOT AWARE OF THE IMPETUOUSNESS
THAT MADE HIM WALK ON WATER
OR THE SELF DOUBTS THAT LET HIM SINK
DID HE NOT SEE
WEATHERED FACE AND WEATHERED SOUL
NO STRANGER TO OUR JOYS OR SORROW
NO SCHOLAR HE
POET MAYBE
ONE IN TUNE WITH SEA AND TIDES AND WEATHER
THE CYCLE OF SEASONS THE RUNNING OF FISH
THE PATIENCE OF THE FISHERMAN

I WONDER IF THAT'S WHY HE PICKED HIM
IF HE SAW IN HIM THE SAME WORKMAN'S PRIDE
THAT JOSEPH HAD
IF HE SAW IN PETER'S WORDS AND ACTIONS
MEMORIES OF JOSEPH
IF HE DID NOT INSTINCTIVELY TRUST HIM
A MAN MINDFUL OF HIS NETS AND BOATS
MINDFUL OF HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY
WHO WOULD BE CAREFUL OF LITTLE THINGS
THE NECESSARY UNPRETENTIOUS DOING THINGS
NOT PLAYING FOR THE BALCONY
JUST DOING HIS JOB
THIS MAN HE CHOOSE



I GIVE TO YOU THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

MATTHEW 16


PETER - DO YOU LOVE ME
FEED MY LAMBS
PETER - DO YOU LOVE ME
FEED MY SHEEP
PETER - DO YOU LOVE ME

FOLLOW ME
JOHN 21


AND YOU PETER
WOULD YOU LEAVE ME
TO WHOM WOULD I GO LORD
YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE

JOHN 6

PUSH OUT THE BOATS
AND LET DOWN YOUR NETS
BUT MASTER WE HAVE LABORED ALL NIGHT
AND CAUGHT NOTHING
BUT WE WILL TRY AGAIN

LUKE 5


I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN
I WILL MAKE YOU HARVESTERS IN THE FIELD
YOU WILL TEND THE VINE AND THE FIG TREE
THE MUSTARD SEED THE COCKLE THE WHEAT
SHALL BE YOUR CONCERN
I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN

HE'D PICKED A FISHERMAN TO WORK IN HIS GARDEN
TO TEND THE SEED HE'D PLANT IN THE SPRING
STRUCK DOWN IN THE SPRINGTIME
THRUST DOWN IN THE EARTH
PLOWED UNDER BY EVIL

HE'D PICKED A FISHERMAN TO TEND TO HIS GARDEN
TO WATCH OVER THE GROWTH OF THE SEED
FROM THE SEED TO THE PLANT
FROM PLANT TO THE FLOWER
TO THE SEED TO THE PLANT TO THE FLOWER
ALWAYS RENEWING
THROUGH CYCLE OF SEASONS
ALWAYS THE SEED DOWN THE AGES
ALWAYS THE SEED TELLING THE MESSAGE
GOD IS HE LOVES HE CARES

DOWN THE AGES ALWAYS THE MESSAGE
ALWAYS THE SEED THE PLANT OR THE FLOWER
ALWAYS THE SEED
TENDED BY GARDENERS POETS FOOLS OR BY THIEVES
ALWAYS THE SEED

IF YOU LOVE ME - KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS
I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS
I WILL SEND YOU THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
TO STAY WITH YOU FOREVER
I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS
I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS
I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN IT ALL BEGAN

A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN WE TRIED AGAIN

Stage directions;

Poetry read by narrator.

Bible verses by various members of the congregation.

Opening verses like a Sunday psalm.

War Memorial

FOUR COLUMNS OF GRANITE
AND A ROOF
WEATHERED BRONZE STAINING THE STONE
A PLACE WHERE WINDS GATHER TO SIGH
AND LEAVES TO DIE
HOW NOBLE THE WORDS UPON THE PLAQUE
WE WILL NOT FORGET
NOR SHALL YOUR DEATH BE IN VAIN
HOW MANY WARS AGO
HOW MANY MONUMENTS SINCE
ONE WOULD WISH THAT THE NOBLE THOUGHTS
COULD BE ENGRAVED UPON THE HEART INSTEAD OF STONE
BUT PERHAPS THE HEART IS HARDER
AND WOULD WEAR THE CHISEL OUT
MAYBE IT'S THE DARK LINES IN THE SKY OF A FADING DAY
THAT MAKES ME FEEL THIS WAY
WRINKLES ON THE BROW OF AN AGING SKY
STANDING BESIDE A MONUMENT WITH NOBLE WORDS
KNOWING WE HAVE AND WILL FORGET


FRANK A VOLLMER

Dives

LET US SING A DIRGE ABOUT DIVES
WHO SUPPED AT A BANQUET TABLE
WHILE UNDERNEATH SAT LAZARUS
WAITING FOR CRUMBS
FROM BREAD
DIVES USED
TO CLEAN HIS GREASY HANDS

FOOD FOR THE DOGS
WHO LICKED HIS SORES

HE FELT GRATEFUL FOR THE CRUMBS

DIVES DIVES
WHY ARE YOU THERE
IN HELL
WHAT DID YOU DO WRONG

NOTHING

THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE

BECAUSE LAZARUS WAS INVISIBLE TO ME

I NEVER BEAT HIM
OR CHASED HIM FROM MY TABLE

HE WAS INVISIBLE TO ME


FRANK A VOLLMER

Hands

I'M RUNNING OUT OF HANDS

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT
THAT IF I LOST MY LEFT HAND
MY RIGHT HAND WOULD BE LEFT

THERE’S A JOKE THERE
BUT I CAN'T PUT MY FINGER ON IT

I HATE TO PALM A BAD JOKE OFF ON YOU
I'D LIKE TO WRIST HUMOR
OUT OF THIS SITUATION
THUMB-THING FUNNY

IF THE WHOLE WORLD’S IN HIS HANDS
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO CLAP WITH

THE STROKE TOOK MY RIGHT HAND
THEN MY LEFT HAND
WHICH WAS NOW MY RIGHT HAND
DEVELOPED TENDINITIS
FROM TOO MUCH WORK

SO NOW I WEAR A BRACE
WHAT A DISGRACE
SOON I'LL BE EATING LIKE A CAT
IMAGINE THAT

I'M ALREADY CUTE AND CUDDLY

FRANK A VOLLMER