There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives and in our daily tasks. Here at home everyone will have the privilege of making whatever self-denial is necessary, not only to supply our fighting men, but to keep the economic structure of our country fortified and secure during the war and after the war.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s radio broadcast to the nation, April 28, 1942


Saturday, April 23, 2011

Novena


Eileen


NOVENA

The church is open
twenty-four hours a day.
People come in
at all hours
to pray,
to remember,
to light a candle.
I make sure I go
on Friday nights.
We say a novena
for the boys.
When prayers are over,
the lights are turned out.
The flames of the candles
glimmer and glow.
My heart, too, glows
as the soloist sings,
Good Night, Sweet Jesus,
and I know
we’ve made it through
another week.

© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Photo courtesy Library of Congress.
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