Poetry

Nkosi J

Will Elsin

Contents - Aug 2009 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Feast of Our Lady's Assumption, 15 August - Michael Gilchrist Caritas in Veritate: Benedict XVI's social encyclical: public life needs Christian principles - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Human rights: Small victories for pro-lifers at the UN - Babette Francis Priesthood: Benedict XVI's Letter to priests: follow example of the Curé of Ars Is this where 'progressive' religious life is heading? - AD2000 REPORT Magisterium: Authentic Catholicism: neither progressive nor conservative - Fr Martin Durham G.K. Chesterton on modernism and orthodoxy Foundations of Faith: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): a recipe for doctrinal chaos - Dr Frank Mobbs God's Messengers: Angels: what Scripture and Tradition reveal - Susan McKinley Poetry: Nkosi J - Will Elsin Letters: Pope Pius XII vindicated - Tony Evans Letters: Religious freedom - Fr Brian Harrison OS Letters: Ecumenism? - Moya and Leo Morrissey Letters: Content of faith - Chris Hilder Letters: Moral decline - Frank Bellet Letters: Poems appreciated - Margaret Healy Letters: Appeal - World Congress of Families - Jenny Davies Books: THE WINE OF CERTITUDE: a Literary Biography of Ronald Knox, by David Rooney - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: JESUS, THE APOSTLES AND THE EARLY CHURCH, by Pope Benedict XVI - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: FLOWERS OF HEAVEN: One Thousand Years of Christian Verse, ed. By Joseph Pearce - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: BECAUSE GOD IS REAL: Sixteen Questions, One Answer, by Peter Kreeft - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: ... AND YOU ARE CHRIST'S':The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life, Dubay - Br Barry Coldrey Books: This month's selection from AD Books Reflection: Mary in God's plan of salvation - Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli

(A tribute to Nkosi Johnson, African child AIDS sufferer who died 1 June 2001 on the feast of St Justin who was martyred for the faith in the second century AD)

Named for Him
Whose cross you share
Your suffering
You so bravely bear
You are our own Nkosi J.

Frail body, fractured smile,
piping voice; another mile
You've come through today,
In your little-big world, Nkosi J.

Mama's gone, I love you, Gail
For all your help with my travail;
I cannot do it on my own
So please be for us our good St Joan.

You murmur not
You do not cry
You have no hate
You accept your fate.
Such courage you had, o tiny mite,
Teaching us that it's quite all right!
To show us how and lead the way
Was your great gift, Nkosi J.

Named for Him
Whose arms you've found;
Angelic hosts
And choirs surround
You now, Nkosi J.

© Will Elsin 2001

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 22 No 7 (August 2009), p. 13