I sold everything
except my Navajo cross
so precious
this god I hold dear
the same god I gave up
Ribbons, 6:1, Spring 2010
H. Gene Murtha
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
除了納瓦霍十字架
我賣了所有的東西
它是如此寶貴
我珍惜這個神
是同樣的神我已放棄
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
除了纳瓦霍十字架
我卖了所有的东西
它是如此宝贵
我珍惜这个神
是同样的神我已放弃
Bio Sketch
H.
Gene Murtha, a naturalist and poet, sponsored and judged the first
haiku contest for the inner city children of Camden, NJ., for the
Virgilio Group, of which he was a lifetime member. He was widely published
for his work in haikai literature from the USA to Japan.
Thematically and emotionally speaking, the paradoxical nature of religious beliefs is effectively conveyed through the image of a Navajo cross and the concluding statement, "this god I hold dear/the same god I gave up."
ReplyDelete...a Navajo cross ... combines the Catholic tradition of the crucifix with the Protestant tradition of the empty cross of Christ. Which is to say that although the cross appears to be empty, its irregular texture suggests the presence of a body. Beyond that, three ends of the cross are flayed to suggest hands and feet.
-- excerpted from "Navajo cross a reminder to keep an open mind in faith debates" by Bill Tammeus, accessed at https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/small-c-catholic/navajo-cross-reminder-keep-open-mind-faith-debates