A trip to the Saint Marianne Cope Shrine and Museum in Syracuse inspired this poem.
Poem by Maryann Vaderpool-Imundo, a poet of Clinton, NY.
Photo by Sue Smith Romero taken at the Mother Marianne Cope Shrine on Schuyler Street in Utica.
Mother Marianne Cope grew up in a German immigrant family in Utica and worked in a factory helping to support her family until she joined the Sisters of St. Francis of Syracuse in 1862. She was instrumental in founding two local hospitals, St. Elizabeth's in Utica and St. Joseph's in Syracuse. In 1883 she and a small group of sisters moved to Hawaii to care for people devastated by a leprosy epidemic. She died there at the age of 80 in 1918.
From the Poet
After visiting the St. Marianne Cope Shrine and Museum at St Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, I was so inspired that I wrote this poem.
St Marianne’s peaceful presence can be felt there among all of her personal relics. Two of the most interesting are an engagement ring from the Prime Minister of Hawaii, Walter Gibson, and an original poem written by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Prime Minister Gibson’s proposal was declined but he remained a good friend to St. Marianne and continued to provide the Island of Kalaupapa with whatever she needed on the secluded leper colony.
Robert Louis Stevenson’s gift to the children, a croquet set, is also on display at the museum.
A Visit To St. Joseph’s
Beloved Mother
Hospitals hope
Outcast’s paradise
St Marianne Cope
Syracuse,
Shrine,
Your presence,
A timeline...
Whispers,
Relics,
Photos,
Notes tell us
Of courage,
Miracles,
Intellect,
Skills
Faith filled,
Rooted
Sacrifice
Will
Contagious compassion
A pioneer
A champion, of
Hanson’s ironic divine disease
Kalaupapa
At peace with leprosy
Feminine Franciscan
Music, fruit, lace
Teacher, leader
Sew, plant, grace
Nature nursing neuropathy with
Flowers, trees,
The Rosary
Cleansed, infection
Music, dignity
Create, control, croquet,
Tranquility
Beauty, believe,
Sing, embroidery
Scared, orphaned,
Feared to touch
Comfort filled
Heartaches cup
Museum heal
Admire, habits, halo
Queen, natives,
Poet’s hero
Vows, valor,
Duty, ring
Kahilis reliquary
Hawaii is blest
Reverence remembered
Her eternal rest