Catholic Poetry: “Old Nuns,” by James M. Hayes

OLD NUNS

Our Lady smiles on youthful nuns,

She loves them well.

Our Lady’s smile like sunshine floods

Each convent cell,

But fondest falls Our Lady’s smile

Where old nuns dwell;

Old nuns whose hearts are young with love

For Mary’s Son,

Old nuns whose prayers for faltering souls

Have victory won,

Old nuns whose lives are beautiful

With service done.

Their love a loveless world has saved

From God’s dread rod,

The paths where sorrow walks with Sin

Their feet have trod,

The knees have worn the flags that pave

The house of God.

Our Lady smiles on youthful nuns,

She loves them well;

Our Lady’s smile like sunshine floods

Each convent cell;

But fondest falls Our Lady’s smile

Where old nuns dwell.

Joyce Kilmer’s Anthology of Catholic Poets (New York: Liveright Publishing Corporation, 1917), 94.