Las Lágrimas

If I had not walked through Chapel,

if I had not stopped to meet the gentle guitarist *

setting up his practice session,

if I had not asked his permission

to sit awhile and listen

I would not have been undone

by the haunting melody full of yearning,   

touched by the  aching timeless beauty.

I would not have known the Spanish title means Tears.

I would not have been moved by memory

of one hundred years of tears and  yearning for God,

music and prayer filling this sacred space like incense,

if I had not walked through the Chapel

that Saturday afternoon.

*Lágrima (Tear) ~ Composition by  Francisco Tárrega

*Mark Mitchell, husband of Sister Theresa Lodermeier’s niece

         

Kathryn Casper, OSB 

6/14/14