Sister Mary Faith Schuster's Poetry

Phone Call

Sister Mary Faith Schuster, OSB

I was looking
for a place
to put my heart
which had disappeared
When I had a telephone call
and a voice I had known
said in a familiar tone,
"I am the stern daughter
of the voice of God.
Do you remember me?"

"Yes, I remember from memorizing
your 'Ode To Duty.' You're
Wordsworth talking.
I forgot about you
this rather late August evening."

"You will never know what to do
with your heart
unless you ask me."

"I don't need to ask now.
I remember
You're common and ordinary
and very 19th century-ish,
but I always liked you
though you had no glowing imagery.
I will now go do what
I'm supposed to be doing."

And the Saturday evening
became golden-toned and filled
with coming amber grain smiling
from highways at all on roads.

The telephone exchange is quite reliable.