Kathleen Dwyer Duyck

Phoenix, Arizona

Kathleen Dwyer Duyck was born in Portland, Oregon where the faculty of St. Mary's Academy emphasized prose and poetry. She earned a B.S. in Home Economics from O.S.U. and a M.S.W. in Social Work from Seattle's U. of W. Kathleen is both a retired adoption worker and symphony musician (cellist); but she is also an active poet. She earned a Golden Poet Award in 1991 and 1992. A member of The International Society of Poets, Kathleen has been published in several National Library of Poetry anthologies and has recorded two cassettes on NLP's "Visions." Besides her family, she enjoys concerts and photography.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

For the joy of this celebration,
we thank You, Lord.
For the generous hospitality,
we thank You, Lord.
For the beckoning table and tasty turkey,
we thank You, Lord.
For the health and safety of all who
traveled from near or far,
we thank You, Lord.
For all of us, warm ad content, in
the shadow of Camelback Mountain,
we thank You, Lord.
Help us to be appreciative of all
the gifts
You gave us not only today, but those
You have already given us in our lives.

Amen.

The Baby Announcement

Eyes danced.
Both smiles flashed.
Dimples cracked.
No spirit lacked.

Champagne flowed.
Parents-to-be glowed.
Coming in Spring
This new baby being.

Will it be a smiler?
Or a jogging run-a-miler?
Will it be lively?
Will it sit beside me?

The important thing
It will come in the Spring
To a couple sweet
Both achievers and neat.

I can't wait for
Our hearts to beat
For the smooth-skinned babe
Our Creator has made.

1998 Chart House
Family Reunion Prayer

For the joy of our celebration,
we thank you Lord.
For sunsets, sunrises, and songs,
we thank you Lord.
For the chance to renew our family ties and to make new ones,
we thank you Lord.
For this nourishing meal with the accompaniment of chatters, smiles, and laughter,
we thank you Lord.
For the beautiful Portland views with identifying shapes and hues,
we thank you Lord.
For the couples newly wed and those longer wed,
we thank you Lord.
For the young people, bright, open, and earnest,
we thank you Lord.
For allowing some of us to "multiply like vines" yet respect the searching, rooting, young twines,
we thank you Lord.
Please help us to remember that like a bubble, love lasts longer when it touches gentleness and tenderness.
Help all of us have a safe summer and do give us the Grace to play in tune with one another, the music of our lives.

Amen