by Douglas J. Lanzo
Copyright 2025
Dedicated to Mother Teresa
First published in Cantos (2026 Issue)
Jesus’ words,
spoken from the cross,
“I am thirsty”
experiencing loss,
but in His suffering,
thirsting for men’s souls,
saving them from sin,
His body paying their tolls;
The same words spoken,
from heaven to a nun,
who devoted her life,
to serving God’s Son;
Words that she heard,
with visions of the poor
crying and begging,
that their lives be restored —
not only with drink
and bread from the earth —
but with love divine,
redeeming self-worth,
as children of God,
with mercy and grace,
from streets of Calcutta
to a life-changing place…
Where all people are loved
by nuns sensing God’s face
in poor eyes that long
for caring embrace…
Pleading for a savior
to free them from pain,
they feel love on earth —
and thirst slaked, by His reign.