They Say a Great Man Died - April 22, 2025

the Pope – God’s voice for

1.4 billion Catholics – died

yesterday to gushing tributes

but who can judge the magnificence

of anyone without knowing

how they treated their inner circle

did he ever acknowledge his bedmaker

or the one who swept his room

brought him breakfast, cleaned his toilet

did his eyes twinkle if he touched

their arm, did he slightly bow

when pausing to thank them

I don’t think the greatest men

or women ever ignore anyone

on the grand arc of their flight

they soar with every class of person

and would gladly offer their seat

to anyone unsteady on their feet

that moves me a lot -

small gestures of love to

“the least among us”