What You'll Find in MU Voices

Read about Wayne Breckenridge III's devotion to chocolate milk, Meghan Griesbeck's interstellar trip, Jillian Law's message to single girls on Valentine's Day, Terry Slaughter's advice on civility, and the Take 5 writers' obsession with office products. You'll also enjoy the vivid colors in Sasha Jackson's photos, and the inviting summer images in Janet Higgins's pictures.

Look through the winter 2017 issue of MU Voices, and appreciate the perspectives and gifts of your Madonna community. And remember to comment on the ones you especially appreciate. A few kind words never hurt anybody.

Outside Views, by Jillian Law

Madonna pond

The Center Convent (a/k/a Motherhouse)

Stormy Weather

Delicate, by Vicki Khzouz

Few women are cursed by this thing.
Far fewer are damned
by its eternal sting.

The rare medley of us who are ill-fated
suffer from a heartache that is agonizingly serrated.
We are forced to live with
these jagged pains,
shackled by our condemning,
boundless chains.

The rare few of us
are gravely delicate.
Cautiously approach us with
empathy, but only if your intentions
are genuinely benevolent.
Because we are those who,
when we love,
we love with our whole heart.
So when we give,
We give.
Leaving nothing behind,
not a single spare part.
So when our heart is broken,
we are shattered.
Crippled by the forsaken wound, left helplessly open.

Many years may continue to succeed.
Yet, not a day passes when our hearts won't bleed.
We'll pretend that we're strong and prove we're moving forward
but every so often, our emotions get the best of us,
torment us
and make us feel cornered.

That's when we fall victim
to our fated restrictions
and we are raped
by our doomed afflictions.

So if you're one of the few to fall in love with us
and we fall for you
be certain your intentions are honorable before you continue to pursue.
Because we are infinitely fragile
and considerably susceptible to unravel.

A Conversation: Part 1, by Jillian Law

Hey, it’s okay

Take a deep breath

You’re going to be okay

I know it doesn’t feel like it right now

You’re tired, so tired

But you can’t sleep

The medicine will help with that, I promise

Don’t try to hide the pill under your tongue

That never works

Take another deep breath

You’re so lucky, my love

You are so loved

So valued

Don’t give up on the world now, my dear

It has a few surprises left for you

Make a list of things you love

Start with five (cats, your blue cozy sweater, the smell of rain, dancing to Taylor Swift, the click of high heels when you walk)

Add more, keep adding them

Make it all the way to a hundred

You deserve all those things

One more deep breath, okay?

We got you back into school whenever you’re ready

No rush

I think it will be better this time

Your friends want to see you

They left you a cake with pink icing and (crooked) green letters

That’s a Harry Potter thing, right?

You made me read those, remember?

Oh honey, what can I do?

Remembering, by Anonymous

In memory of Grandma Sweetpea

Flute books with your markings

On the music that you taught.

Scrapbooks full of memories

Can be neither sold nor bought.

Your love for us is ever strong

Your laughter was contagious,

And none of us will soon forget

The joy your spirit gave us.

Daughter, Wife, and Mother

Best known as Grandma Sweetpea,

I’m thankful for the times we’ve shared

And how you’ve loved me deeply.

I’ll miss you when your birthday comes

And you’re not there to call

But on that day your family here

Your life we will recall.

Civility, by Terry Slaughter

Of note,

Civility is a thing unto

itself to be cherished

Like Grandma’s old stories

You will understand, But,

only later.

It must be loved,

Nurtured,

Dressed, washed, fed,

Or it will grow legs and

Walk out

Or wings

And fly away.

It does not need us We need it.

Lest we douse ourselves

in gas And

set ourselves,

And everything around

us, to flame.

Then, only the memory will remain.

Civility….