Gwendolen's Sea 911 Memorial Page on Sorrow[Last updated on 11/01]

Please click on image for full-screen view.

Pietà, 1499, marble sculpture, Vatican.
Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564.

Gwendolen's thoughts:

I designed this page as an expression of noble and exalted feeling and consciousness, of true pacificism, of spiritual and humanitarian love. It's the way I have felt in the past regarding most warfare (WWII the exception). It's truly the way I'd like to feel now; I know some of you who read this page are able to. This page is for you and for where I wish my head and heart and everyone else's head and heart could be...

For my opinions on the September 11th attack and present war...

Scanned image courtesy of CGFA,
http://sunsite.dk/cgfa/

Paint Shop Pro frame courtesy of

Burning candle courtesy of

The flying dove is courtesy of
Christines Free Bird Clipart on about.com
http://birding.about.com/cs/birdclipart/

Dove was contributed by Laird and Kelly Fentress
If the dove is not flying, click your "Refresh" button to see it in motion.

Pieta

Mother Mary cried
rain from heaven
her children died
she lit a candle
prayed for peace
the Blessed Virgin wept
to cleanse the blood
enduring flow
upon the winter snow

Mother Mary cried
beneath Christmas lights
in plastic mangers
the Sacred Mother sighed
and bent her head
       in despair amidst transients and thieves
       walked beside holiday shoppers
       and charity seekers
       but all the gold and glitter
       could not revive her gentle Jesus

Mary cried
from silent pure
and graceful marble
her child was lain
across her lap
Mary sorrowed

Tranquility a soft disguise
of placid lips and veiled eyes
serene faith on a vestal face belied
the fiery grief that raged inside

Tenderly Mary held her child
bent her head and gazed
lovingly at his design
her creation
an artist admiring the perfect work
of her flesh
and wisdom
pieta.

Tracie Cleaver, copyright 1981 and 2001.

Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And when there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assissi, 1182-1226 (that's 44 years)