never did
She knew the beauty of the surrounding world
And the kindness of the friends who rescued her
And she was whole again
In spite of ritual
Diamonds are forever
Emeralds too
That and never-ending pedigree
And pearls
What time does the party start?
Psalm Twenty–four
1 The earth is God’s, and the fulness thereof;The world, and they that dwell therein.2 For he hath founded it upon the seas,And established it upon the floods.3 Who shall ascend into the hill of God?And who shall stand in his holy place?4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood,And hath not sworn deceitfully.5 He shall receive a blessing from God,And righteousness from the God of his salvation.6 This is the generation of them that seek after him,That seek thy face, even Jacob. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates;And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors:And the King of glory will come in.8 Who is the King of glory?God strong and mighty,God mighty in battle.9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates;Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors:And the King of glory will come in.10 Who is this King of glory?God of hosts,He is the King of glory.
The earth we once called Gaia A goddess who sustained humanity
That would be us
Wraps herself in the oceans
And the wilderness
She breathes beauty
Calls forth birdsong
And embraces all living things
Who dares pollute her body
Ravage her beauty
Defile her heart
And scar her eternal face?
She provides a place for us
Unto the millennia
She blesses us
With breeze and crystal waters
And blossoming trees
That give us everything we need to thrive
Who is this Gaia
This mother of all
This presence among us?
How do we thank her?
How do we respond in grace?
Psalm Twenty–five
1 Unto thee, O God, do I lift up my soul.2 O my God, in thee have I trusted,Let me not be put to shame;Let not mine enemies triumph over me.3 Yea, none that wait for thee shall be put to shame:They shall be put to shame that deal treacherously without cause.4 Show me thy ways, O God;Teach me thy paths.5 Guide me in thy truth, and teach me;For thou art the God of my salvation;For thee do I wait all the day.6 Remember, O God, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindness;For they have been ever of old.7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions:According to thy loving kindness remember thou me,For thy goodness’ sake, O God.8 Good and upright is God:Therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.9 The meek will he guide in justice;And the meek will he teach his way.10 All the paths of God are loving kindness and truth Unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.11 For thy name’s sake, O God,Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.12 What man is he that feareth God?Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.13 His soul shall dwell at ease;And his seed shall inherit the land.14 The friendship of God is with them that fear him;And he will show them his covenant.15 Mine eyes are ever toward God;For he will pluck my feet out of the net.16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me;For I am desolate and afflicted.17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged:Oh bring thou me out of my distresses.18 Consider mine affliction and my travail;And forgive all my sins.19 Consider mine enemies, for they are many;And they hate me with cruel hatred.20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me:Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee.21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,For I wait for thee.22 Redeem Israel, O God,Out of all his troubles.
I pray to the Lord to lift my soul
But first
Let me hunt down terrorists
I know they’re there
With scarves around their faces
Bombs in their backpacks
And languages that make no sense
Except to them
I pray that former slaves
And heretics
Unhappy as hell
Move back to where they came from
And leave us alone
To own the earth
And possibly the sky
Show me the way, O Lord.
Teach me to be cunning
Like feral cats
And cottonmouths
Save me
From drinking too much
Driving too fast
Using too many drugs
And four-letter words
Lead me in truth, O Lord
And I will destroy your enemies
Bombs over Tokyo
Hurray
Good and upright is the Lord
He will teach the radicals
The way, the light and the truth
Or fair warning
they will be extinguished on the spot
The meek will he guide in judgment
The submissive will he teach his way
That would be us
Blind obedience
Our souls shall dwell at ease
Our seed shall inherit the earth
Yes,
