Wakefulness begun
St Therese to chaplain Piere Belliere, in 1897,
a few months before her death at age 24:
I am not dying, I am entering into life.
Wakefulness again begun.
Bleeding free upon glimpsed shards of Luminous trust
that mysteriousness between this and this
sensational suffering mind.
yes
quietly wake to still
this and this constantly re-fining will
re-fuel oneself to wait upon
that still small Voice
that Glittering Jewel
that active, in-active othering choice
to re-ignite in blessed hoped for souls renewal
by sinking-in ankle deep
that Ground grown moist
from leakages of wonton wounds and size nine feet
Now
to stretch those tiny toes deeply deep
into that oozing boiling balm
that heated hopeful weight full ness
immersions that convert alarm to dozing daze and waits to be
replenished and be-calmed in fertile fires and shining mists
of Love and Grace said to exist beyond this and this
pre-occupied pre-possessed never ended re-positioning of grasp and cling to
flesh and bone and time and test.
Dust Rich Flesh
Bathed in Your yolk
dust rich Flesh
May I live so:
‘if on my dust a tuft of grass were to grow, every blade would tremble with my devotion for thee.’ (from Invocations by Ansari of Herat)
Teacher
Teach.
Come towards to hush this
tightly
taught
dissecting
I
this mind of ‘my’
I
mine alone
this owner’s
ship of listing skin
this un-
contained husk of
lack and lust for
being seen as different and
distinct, these
sentient addictive flaws
I
darkly sow
now
deep within this sentimental hold, these
envious skeins, these half-
digested and indulged
unwatched
unwashed
infatuations of the
I
sores that pray to be
left alone to
infect
mindscapes over grown, to
freshly pull at scaffoldings of
braking bone
overwrought, this
iron will of ego intent can only glimpse
waverings
of such and such discontent, for
I
have heard but seldom feel
the real and awesome unsaid
Word
that roots
and shoots
green leaves anew
to sway with ease
while anchored true to
dust
richly fed
deep within
the sacrificial flesh of
You.
Strengthened in Life (version two)
Breathe-out
and
stand
the Weh
is at hand
Breathe-in
rejoice
let
Yah guide
the voice
for when
joy fills
the lungs
when
breath-full-ness
comes
anxieties fall
as
Love Be-stills all.
On the pure:
meditate
For the just:
Supplicate
Praise both:
Noble and True
Give thanks for:
Virtue
With the Loveless:
Consort
and with all good report
‘Rejoice’
I say twice
and Be strengthened in
Life.
After Philippians V4: 4-13
city slowness 