Thursday, March 29, 2012

How Long?

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent



All my life has been a relearning to pray--a letting go of incantational magic, petition, and the vain repetition "Me Lord, me," instead watching attentively for the light that burns at the center of every star, every cell, every living creature, every human heart. 
                                                                    Chet Raymo


                                                                                   Van Gogh

                                   Oh Lord
                                   that I may remove
                                   this mountain of self
                                   carrying in my small pail
                                   want and fear
                                   quartz gleaming.

                                   The moment calls out
                                   like the tender tips of rain,
                                   the nets of branches mars slips through,
                                   the inexplicability of darkness
                                   coming over the water of air:

                                   the sanctity of creation's chanting prayer.

                                   Oh why do I carry away
                                   and pile back
                                   these pails of self?
                                   How long?

                                   While joy pulses 
                                   through every cell. 







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