“Anon” Literary Criticism Response to this historic poem by —Lawrence J. Hergott, M.D. 

Anon is my favorite word from William Shakespeare. It means “ in a little while.” This is my time signature response to the 50th Anniversary of the Graduation of the St. John’s University Class of 1968

Anon!

On That Day and This

On that day-

the first day of us-

the first words

of the first professor

in the first Lecture were:

“The history of Western Civilization began

with William the Conqueror

and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

And, we were off,

to assimilation,

judgement,

wonder,

and an expanded foundation

of the personal

and spiritual-

(or is it all spiritual?).

We were brothers

who didn’t know we were brothers,

but who so very deeply

over those few seasons

came to know and treasure

that bond.

And then,

suddenly,

we parted,

Leaving each other

and this wondrous place

to live and experience,

to succeed,

misjudge,

harm,

fail-

and (hopefully) integrate

and offer

what we have learned.

No matter how distant

from this place

or ourselves

we remembered our bond.

And on this day we meet again.

I would like to know

who is brother is now.

I would like to know the story

of your travels-

your inner travels, really.

There is not enough time to hear it all

on this celebration day,

but I would like to know.

May I ask a few questions

that you can tell me about you,

who and how you are-

questions I have asked and answered myself,

and would be pleased to share?

What the Persian poet Jalaluddin Rumi

asked of a beloved:

Now that you have traveled so far

and seen so much,

what is it you most prize?

What the poet Raymond Carver-

having largely lived a complicated and destructive life

until it’s final decade-

asked himself in his final poem,

now  arved on his gravestone:

And did you get what 

You wanted from this life, even so?

I did.

And what did you want?

To call myself beloved, to feel

beloved on the earth.

Affirmative answers to the Carver Questions

will delight my soul,

my brother.

My brother.

—Lawrence J. Hergott, MD.

—In Honor of  the 5Oth Anniversary of the Graduation of St. John’s University Class of 1968.

In the tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas I answers these poem questions with Bible verse responses!

I Arise:

Romans 15:12

And again, Isaiah says, the Root of Jesse will spring up.

One who will Arise to Rule over the nations; in him the gentiles will hope. 

Salome, Dance of the 7 Veils!

https://youtu.be/6oVaIuMI0II

II Salome, “I want the head of John, the Baptist!”

June 24th 2018 is the Feast of the Nativity and Solemnity of St. John the Baptist. As a member of the historic class of 1968 and a student of Father Dominic at SJU and Annunciation Parish in South Minneapolis I am presenting Strauss’: Salome Dance of the 7 Veils by the Dutch National Opera. Lamps Burning Benedictines on June 24th. Anon is Dr. Patrick ODougherty favorite word from William Shakespeare. Anon and keep you lamps burning children with Birka veil intensity.

In the modern context think Sam Peckinpah’s film “Bring me the head of  Alfred Garcia.”

III 1John 3:18

My little children “Love not in word and tongue, but deed and truth.”

This is the hallmark quote from Pastors for Peace to Cuba.

IV“Love is our license”

to end the blockade!

Dr. Patrick A ODougherty is a Double Fellowship winner to Cuba with Pastors for Peace to Cuba. Join this Odyssey!