I have an elderly patron who recalls having heard Fulton Sheen (a Catholic bishop now deceased) include the following lines from a poem in a serman or speech some 45 years ago. "So Veronica Johnson's gone to be a nun / After all the things I've done." Needless to say my patron would love to know ANYthing about that poem. Thanks much.
No luck. So far I haven't been able to dig anything up on the net apart from the fact that Fulton Sheen wrote books, but of course the contents are not online. I'm sorry we couldn't be of more help.
Hmmmm, I wonder if this is the same Veronica.
[www.stmikespierrefonds.com] />
Les
Here's your answer. It seems that this poem was written by a priest. Perhaps there is a deeper, true story behind the poem -- not only the religiuos symbolism.
Doug
Poem:
THE RIVALS
By:
LEONARD FEENEY, S. J.
From:
IN TOWNS AND LITTLE TOWNS: A BOOK OF POEMS
Published:
THE AMERICA PRESS
NEW YORK
1927
and it's on the web!
[www.romancatholicism.org]
Nice catch, Doug thanks. Out of curiosity what "keyword" did you use to find it on the web, "gone to be a nun"? [www.google.com] />
Les
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/2005 12:40AM by lg.
well done!
for future reference, let's paste it here too.
THE RIVALS
And now Veronica Johnson
Has gone to be a nun,
After all the time I’ve spent on her
And all the things I’ve done.
I courted Veronica Johnson
And gave her books and flowers,
And I loaned her my new umbrella
To take her home in showers.
I trimmed the rose-bush at her door;
I often mowed the grass.
And she had me wearing medals
And trotting off to Mass.
But when I asked her for her hand
She never gave a nod;
She threw me down completely
And went running off with God.
Would you think that one so cruel
Could ever, ever be -
With her highfalutin’ notions
About eternity!
She said it was her Maker
Who bade her leave and go.
Good Lord, unless you make a girl
You haven’t got a show.
So ,the SJ (Leonard Feeney, SH) - would that be Society of Jesuits? - could someone please elucidate for us ignorant Anglican.
SJ = Society of Jesus, members are commonly refered to as Jesuits.
Thanks, Linda - I knew the term Jesuits from reading history books but have never heard of The Society of Jesus. I just thought they were an order of monks like Franciscans etc. I shall try and find out more now I have the correct terminology.
Hi lg:
In reply to your question about the keyword... I think I did indeed use the quoted phrase "gone to be a nun," as you observed. I tried working with the author full name (which turned up too much), and then quoting the full line, gradually backing out the words one at a time when the searches failed.
Frankly, I was so delighted at finding one of these 'lost poems' I didn't think to keep track of how I found it. Normally, the questions posted stump me!
Doug
(plug for a favorite poet: I found this site looking for Sara Teasdale poems and commentary. Very interesting site you folks have here. I'll have to check to see if you have a thread going on how people found this site!)
Sara Teasdale is a great favourite of mine, too, but being in copyright we aren't really allowed to post her work. Sometimes if people are looking for particular poems we sneak them in, but don't let on, will you.
I'll have to check to see if you have a thread going on how people found this site!
Doug, there has been such a thread. I will search for it and post a link here if I can find it.
Les
Found it. Here you go Doug: [www.emule.com] />
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2005 05:51PM by lg.