By Tom Maguire | Associate editor
Missionary Father Michael Bassano, who grew up in Binghamton and served for a time in the Diocese of Syracuse, has started the year in a creative mode in South Sudan.
A member of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, he is the Catholic chaplain in the United Nations Protection of Civilians camp outside Malakal, on the east side of the White Nile River in a country where peace has been a shaky proposition. Father Bassano has sent along three new poems he has written.
In a Jan. 26 email, Father Bassano says: “May this New Year bring peace to South Sudan and to our world. It was the Dominican Priest Meister Eckhart who said every creature is ‘a book about God.’
“This attached poem [“Script”] came from my heart. We will soon be distributing 1316 bags of rice (20 kgs each [about 44 pounds]) to our vulnerable people here in the camp as well as in the town of Malakal who are in need of food. The money to buy the rice came from the Maryknoll Famine Relief Fund.
“Warm regards to all.”
In an email, Deacon Paul Bork, director for mission education and promotion for the Northeast Region of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, said Father Bassano’s poem “Script” is “a beautiful vision of the hope and beauty” that he finds in the midst of life in the camp.
Father Bassano has said that sometimes he might be looking at nature or reflecting on the journey of life, and the poetry “just comes.”
On Jan. 14, the Sun received an airmail letter from Father Bassano in which he enclosed two poems: “The Seeker” and “Empty Manger.”
He wrote:
“The first poem speaks of self-surrender, of dying to self, to live for God alone. It speaks of the journey of my life and everyone’s life of the need to let go and let God take over our lives in doing his will.
“The second speaks of being an empty manger in receiving the presence of Christ into our hearts where He lives forever to bring us healing and inner strength to face the everyday challenges of life.
“We pray for peace in our world as this New Year of 2019 begins.”
Here are his poems:
The Seeker
It was January 1, 2019
when the Seeker died
His ashes were thrown
into the flowing river
of divine consciousness
There is no need to mourn
or grieve for him
He remains alive
yet on this earth
Living in the love
of his Beloved
beyond all imagining.
— Mike Bassano, Jan. 1, 2019
Empty Manger
The season was over
decorations taken away
In the Church
an inner voice speaking
desiring to say
That Christmas is eternal
not just for one day
Presence of God indwelling
showing us the way
To live in peace
as sister and brother
Conscious of the Sacred
in greeting each other
To be alive with joy
is the message heard today
Empty manger of my heart
where Jesus comes to stay.
— Mike Bassano, Jan. 13, 2019
Script
Words no longer mine
Surrendered clearly
To the one who is near
Loving me dearly
Many years in the making
Discerning the way
Gently guided by another
Yielding to the Spirit’s way
Of simply letting go
Leaving all behind
Discovering the treasure
Worthy of the find
That is priceless, eternal
Given as grace
Seen in every precious
Human face
Telling the story
Of compassionate love
Your sacred book
Inspired from above
Truth received today
Marvelous to behold
You are the author
Of our story to be told
God’s script of my life
Emotionally freeing
To live only for You
In my inmost being
— Mike Bassano, Jan. 22, 2019
