Incarnation: New and Selected Poems for Spiritual Reflection

by Irene Zimmerman

Overview

Irene Zimmerman’s scripturally-based poetry has been read from pulpits, savored by individuals, and provided the topics for weekend retreats and discussion groups. Incarnation restores to print the poems from Zimmerman’s popular Woman Un-Bent and includes more than four dozen new and selected poems on scriptural themes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781561012565
Publisher:	Cowley Publications
Publication date:	05/25/2007
Pages:	156
Product dimensions:	5.64(w) x 8.48(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

IRENE ZIMMERMAN, OSF is poet-in-residence at St. Joseph Retreat in Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin. She has been a School Sister of Saint Francis for fifty years, and her poems have appeared in The Christian Century, The Christian Science Monitor, Cross Currents, The Liguorian, Review for Religious, St. Anthony Messenger, Sisters Today, and other publications.

Table of Contents

	Prologue: "In the Beginning Was the Word"
	Incarnation	12
I	First Covenant Words
	Creation of Eve	14
	First Forgiveness	15
	First Parenting	17
	Sarah's Laughter	18
	Exodus	19
	Ruth Gleaning	21
	What if Hannah Hadn't	22
	Jonah: A Fable	23
II	"And the Word Became Flesh"
	Dialogue	26
	"How Can This Be, Since I Am a Virgin?"	27
	Women Weaving	28
	Mary Song	29
	Song of Zechariah	30
	Unto His Own	31
	Christmas Sky	32
	The Creatures' Christmas	33
	Theophany	34
	Jew-EL	35
	First Word	36
	Litany for Ordinary Time	37
	Growing Pains	38
	Mary Pondered All These Things	39
III	"You Are My Beloved Son"
	John the Baptist: The Passover	42
	Beloved Son	43
	The Testing (A Triptych)	44
1.	Loaves of Stone
2.	The Reign of God
3.	From the Pinnacle
IV	"Behold, I Come to Do Your Will"
	Cana Wine	50
	Healing of the Paralytic	53
	Storm at Sea	55
	Gerasene Demoniac	57
	Homecoming	59
	Ecstasy's End	60
	Like a Little Child: A Story in Two Voices	61
	Blind Trust	62
	Firstborn Sons and the Widow of Nain	63
	"She Has Shown Great Love"	64
	Faith Power	66
	When a Little Was Enough	67
	Bethany Decisions	69
	Woman Un-Bent	70
	Jesus Preaches from the Boat	71
	The Lost Parable	72
	Father and Son: Two Prodigals	74
	Jesus and Zacchaeus: A Short Story	76
	Encounter with the Canaanite Woman	77
	Expanding the Mission	79
	Discipleship	80
	At Jacob's Well (A Triptych)	81
1.	Exchange
2.	Reconciliation
3.	To Jesus at the Well
	Woman Taken in Adultery	84
	Return of Lazarus	86
	Anointings in Bethany	87
V	"Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit"
	Entry into Jerusalem	90
	Overturning Tables: Reclaiming the Temple	91
	Legacy	92
	Last Lesson	94
	And It Was Night	96
	Mount of Olives	97
	Agony	98
	Betrayal	99
	Stabat Mater	100
	Jesus Comforts the Women	101
	The Nailing	102
	The Game	103
	Crucifixion	104
	Many Women Were Also There	105
	Pieta	106
VI	"He Is Risen... Go Tell the Others"
	Paschal Paradox	108
	Liturgy	109
	Easter Song	110
	Resurrection	111
	Easter Witnesses	112
	The Women of Mark 16:8	114
	Emmaus Journey	115
	Primacy	116
	Healing Touch	117
	The Accused	118
	Pontius Pilate at the Therapist	119
	Toward Reconciliation	120
	Rock Restored	121
	Pentecost: Harvest Feast	123
VII	Mulling the Word
	Homemaker God	126
	A Woman's Journey in Discipleship	127
	Holy Ground	129
	Learning to Trust	130
	Yahwh, My Heritage, My Cup	131
	Apple Picking: Eden Revisited	132
	In This Fog	133
	Emmanuel: God with Us	134
	A Different Kind of King	135
	Feast of St. Paul	136
	On the Way to Easter	137
	God of Shelter, God of Shade	139
	Companion	140
	Life-Giving	141
	A Celibate Dialogues with God	142
	Paschal Mystery	143
	Prayer for a Happy Death	144
	Wait for Me, Jesus	145
	As It Was in the Beginning	146
	As Jesus Dies	147
	"Unless the Grain of Wheat Falls"	148
	In His Mother's Arms	150
	Our Father Our Mother	151
	Commissioning	152
	Epilogue: "I Am with You Always, to the End of the Age"
	I Am with You Always	154

Editorial Reviews

Irene Zimmerman is a poet, and does what poets do. She overrides categories, breaks conventions, says it new, and moves us to where we gasp in the presence of gift. Some say imagination is linked to the Holy Spirit. So it is here, spirit of freedom, spirit of healing, spirit of joy. Irene says Mary’s word is ‘yes.’ Here it is God’s ‘yes’ to any listener. I am glad I am among them.

Columbia Theological Seminary - Walter Brueggemann

This poetry mediates an original insight into the mysteries of the life of Christ, and the simple beauty of the language makes them not only illuminating but touching.

Sandra M. Schneiders

Irene Zimmerman is a poet, and does what poets do. She overrides categories, breaks conventions, says it new, and moves us to where we gasp in the presence of gift. Some say imagination is linked to the Holy Spirit. So it is here, spirit of freedom, spirit of healing, spirit of joy. Irene says Mary’s word is ‘yes.’ Here it is God’s ‘yes’ to any listener. I am glad I am among them.
— Walter Brueggemann

Columbia Theological Seminary