NYMYSTERIES.COM JuLY 24, 2021
Abdul Latif Nasser was imprisoned without charge at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for 19 years. He was transferred to his home country of Morocco on Monday. He’s the first detainee to be released from Guantanamo under President Joe Biden. Mr. Nasser had been scheduled to be released in 2016. Former President Donald Trump, had reversed his predecessor’s efforts to depopulate the prison.
We Judsonites are surrounded by gifted poets, writers, musicians, dancers. actors, cartoonists. The poet, Phil Eggers, wrote A Quiet Homecoming.
In celebration of returning to our space for Sunday services here is a poem, an offering dedicated to those who have come over the past two weeks, those will will come in the future, and for those who can only attend in spirit (for I am aware that a church and community is much more than four walls).
With love and gratitude,
-Phil Eggers
A Quiet Homecoming
No choir, no crowd, no coffee.
No banners, no banquet, no band.
Quite what to say.
Some sliding out.
But here and there
Some not knowing
Some slipping in.
A hand is shook,
A back is clapped.
Across the aisle
There’s a knowing nod
Or welcome wave;
Quiet and easy
“How do you do”s
Whisper and ripple
Inside the cavern.
A right, little company
To commune with.
To sit,
To share,
To summon
Whatever spirit that will serve.
Ah.
Breath in the building
Once more.
The semi-silent, seismic sound
Of returning home.