Sunday, April 29, 2018

"All I Ask of You is forever to remember me as loving you"


 Photo by Brian Federle: Passages

I heard this song in mass this morning; it struck me by its simple beauty and the comfort it brought me.  I've learned that it comes from the Sufi tradition of Islam, the mystical part of the great Muslim faith.

The chorus of the song, in Arabic, is Ishq' Allah, Ma abud L'íllah , which means, "All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you."

From its original provenance as a Sufi song, the poem has become a contemporary song often played at Christian funerals. It is called "All I ask." The Benedictine monks of Weston Priory in Vermont produce lovely cards with this tender wish.

To see it performed click on this link:

All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.

Deep the joy of being together in one heart
and for me that's just where it is.

All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.

As we make our way through all the joys and pain,
Can we sense our younger, truer selves?

All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.

Someone will be calling you to be there for a while.
Can you hear the cry from deep within?

All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.

Laughter, joy and presence: the only gifts you are.
Have you time? I'd like to be with you.

All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.

Persons come into the fiber of our lives,
and then their shadow fades and disappears.

All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.

Ishq'Allah, ma abud L'illah, Ishq'Allah, ma abud L'illah.
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.

Monday, April 16, 2018

Omnipresence

Photo: Brian Federle, Pacific Evening, 2014


In the psalms of night birds
in the bright morning trees,
I hear your song echoing,
overwhelming me.

Always above me,
around and below,
inside me your love’s
a constant glow.

In warm summer’s ocean,
in the soft breath of night
I sway in the rhythm
of passionate life.

(15 June 2012)

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Eucharist

Caravaggio,Supper at Emmaus 
National Gallery, London



Walking through the dusty grove

we talked of death and empty graves

when a stranger suddenly appeared.


He walked with us and asked why we trembled so.
Amazed that he seemed not to know
of the blood and pain in Jerusalem,
we told him
how dark the day became, how the sun slid down
to shivering night
when, broken, our friend was placed in the cave.

Rebuking us for our lack of faith,
he explained how it was all foretold in the ancient books;
from Adam to David, the inevitable grave
insatiably claims
corrupt humanity

until now.

We heard, eyes cast down,
when at Emmaus he broke
our common bread

and looking up, we saw Him.

His face was blazing like the sun!
We blinked, and then he was gone,

but the bread remained.



(7 May 2011)