Francis by Patrick J. Marrin for April 25, 2019

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    jimmjonzz Premium Member about 5 years ago

    In a Vatican Garden, near oleanders and magnolias, a caretaker pruned a bush. As he carried the pruned twigs away, one dropped unnoticed into the grass.

    Something (the wind? a bird? a curious child? a rivulet after rain?) carried it away until it stopped (was dropped? the wind or water abated?) in St. Peter’s Square. And, improbability on top of improbability, it was wedged into a small space between two paving stones. More improbably, no visitor to the square stepped on it. It was spared again and again. It sent down roots. But anyone who saw it would think it just a weed. Almost anyone. But then there’s Leo.

    Sometimes a weed is a flower growing in an inconvenient place.

    But this one’s growing here

    Right in St. Peter’s Square

    Beneath the pilgrim’s feet

    It’s growing soft and sweet

    And waiting

    Leo will take it home

    Where the Bishop of Rome

    Will watch it as it grows

    Into a fragrant rose

    In his garden

    And of course it was a rose, iconic of Mary. Maybe she sent it to Leo.

    Well, you knew it was going to be a rose, didn’t you?

    Leo didn’t. He just wanted it to become.

    [With apologies and respect to Jerry Lieber, Phil Spector, Ben E. King, Aretha Franklin, and anyone else who helped the original to become.]

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  2. Rhadamanthus
    craigwestlake  about 5 years ago

    As I’m sure he would wish it to be, this comic isn’t really about the pope; it’s about those who surround him, both the good and the bad – and how will he deal with them…

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    Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo]  about 5 years ago

    Cute but if allowed to spread they would get stepped on. But Nature will find a way.

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