A Poem for Light

"God's abstention is only from human dialects;
 the holy voice utters its woe and glory in myriad musics,
 in signs and portents.   Our own words are for us to speak,
 a way to ask and to answer."

.....Denise Levertov

There are some gifts that come to us
just once or twice in a lifetime,
gifts that cannot be named
beyond the simple act of gratitude.

We are given a vision so bountiful
we can only gaze with eyes wide,
like a child in summer's first garden.

We reach our clumsy hands
toward that communion
that single perfection
and walk away speechless, blessed.

And breathe, 
in years to come
  breathe, 
breathe our hearts open 
aching to tell it well

to sing it into every other heart
to dance it down, into the hungry soil
to hold it before us

that light, 
  that grace given
  voiceless light


Lauren Raine

Poetry by Normandi Ellis

Sculpture by Catherine Nash

      Insha'Allah

On a rainy New York morning in a cab on the way to JFK
I lost my wallet, my credit card, my driver's license and $300
I say "insha'Allah" - As God Wills It.
My seat companion on EgyptAir lost all of her luggage.
I say "Allahu Akbar" - God is Great.
Dear Lady, God smiles upon you and me
and has given us both a gift.
Now, others may give and because of our loss,
they are blessed by their giving.
We have fewer burdens to carry, less to guard
and so in that way we can open our hearts.
"Insha'Allah" we say together, God is Great.
When I return home from Egypt
there in my mailbox is an envelope
with wallet, credit cards, driver's license and $300.

 

The message read:  God Loves You.
There was no return address.

Normandi Ellisfrom "Words on Water"
www.finishinglinepress.com

Thanks Giving

BRIDGIT

"God's abstention is only from human dialects;
the holy voice utters its woe and glory
in myriad musics, in signs and portents.
Our own words are for us to speak,
a way to ask and to answer."

Denise Levertov


There are some gifts that come to us
just once or twice in a lifetime
gifts that cannot be named
beyond the simple act of gratitude.

We are given a vision so bountiful
we can only gaze with eyes wide,
like a child
in summer's first garden.

We reach our clumsy hands
toward that communion
that single perfection
and walk away speechless, blessed.

And breathe,
in years to come, breathe,

breathe our hearts open
aching to tell it well:

to sing it into every other heart
to dance it down, into the hungry soil
to hold it before us

that light,
that grace given
voiceless light

(1999)