prayer

Photo Brian Federle: Morning, Washington State, Aug. 2014


deep in my center

lies the
word.

it resonates
softly, it
whispers
in my ear.

its lover,
silence,
embraces
the word
like thick mist
caressing
golden
coastal slopes.

but this crude song is
a metaphor,
an anxious gong,
a poor imitation,
a mockingbird.

patiently,
the word
resists
all explanation.

it just simply
is.

(3 Sept. 2010)

Lovesong

I will be there always
even though you don't know me.

My life will shine in your eyes,
O child of my child.

With your small, quick breaths
I will breathe again,
and when you cry
my faithful heart will again break.

So look for me in the still, high trees;
the green brilliance of the winking sun
will be our secret signal.

You don't know me, but
your soul, your golden love,
your fears and hopes
I will keep safe in my heart,

and in the soft wind will I sing to you
O beautiful child.
I will guard you
as you play.
 
Look up at dancing spring clouds
and shout your joy skyward
to me!

(8 December 2010)

Ordination

“What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy.”  Thomas Merton

+

deep in this cathedral

love resounds

through the bright air

of paradise

love rebounds

playful, full of

prayer.

Oh, hear the organ’s

profundo ring
laughter

as love pierces

your living heart

as, prostrate,

love breaks open

your breathless soul.

(18 November 2013 on the ordination of my brother)

The Boy's Gift

I only have

two little fish and

the five barley loaves

my mother packed

for my father and me

for our long

walk home.

I’ve been hungry before

and fear losing my little dinner,

but your eyes so fill my heart,

that, smiling, I give you all I have.

Oh, you must be the One!

for from my meager dole

you feed five thousand souls.

Never again

will I be hungry!

(5/28/2011)

You Speak

"I am myself a word spoken by God. Can God speak a word 
that does not have any meaning?" Thomas Merton

You speak

and I breath the air 

that you imagine,

smile, and like the calling bird,

I rise to the sun!

But when my selfish soul

swells with self-

sent hell

you wake me, 

and expel me

from my troubled sleep.

Oh, I yearn for that day

when forgiven and

by your love

subsumed,

I'll steadfastly abide

in your constant light.

(2 February 2012)

Child in a Pout

Child in a pout

self-absorbed,

all alone

in anger he shouts

“I’ll run away

from home!

I’ll run away,  run away

far from my

home.”

(Enfold him deep

in the dark

of my eyes,

sing him to sleep

fill his dreams

with my cries)

“Oh, I'll go with you, hurry!

together,  today!

I’ll follow you

always to

wherever you stray

and you never will ever

again be alone,

for wherever I am,

there you’re ever at

home.”