Pope Francis, the first Latin American Pope, the first Jesuit Pope, the first Francis as Pope, was an inspired choice this evening. At 76, he is unlikely to overstay his welcome. As someone who has devoted decades to working with the poorest people of Argentina, he brings a message of humility, charity, and kindness. He is, in person, mildly charismatic - gentle, intelligent, and capable. He has started well. For those against the 1.2 billion Catholics in the world, and its Church, however, even this miracle of sagacity - a choice made almost in heaven - is darkness in the light; some are already alluding to the Pope's past as linked to the Junta. This is very nasty unproven stuff, a real smear campaign, and misses the point - the Church's move into the 21st century has started today, on the 13th of March, 2013, only 13 years late. God bless Pope Francis.
A poem for my mother, July 15 When she was dying And I was in a different country I dreamt I was there with her Flying over the ocean very quickly, And arriving in the room like a dream And I was a dream, but the meaning was more Than a dream has – it was a moving over time And land, over water, to get love across Fast enough, to be there, before she died, To lean over the small, huddled figure, In the dark, and without bothering her Even with apologies, and be a kiss in the air, A dream of a kiss, or even less, the thought of one, And when I woke, none of this had happened, She was still far distant, and we had not spoken.

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