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Month: December 2010
O Veni…
O Wisdom — we too often place you where
our minds can wrap around you and ensnare
your mighty arms that would us enfold,
but, gently, they escape our stranglehold.
Rejoice! Rejoice! — God’s wisdom comes to earth,
though not in force: just through a simple birth.
our minds can wrap around you and ensnare
your mighty arms that would us enfold,
but, gently, they escape our stranglehold.
Rejoice! Rejoice! — God’s wisdom comes to earth,
though not in force: just through a simple birth.
O Lord — Lords now don’t have such a good name,
and bombs outdo a burning bush’s flame.
In Israel fades your promise of peace,
and lawlesness pervades from west to east. Rejoice! Rejoice! — despite all this God came,
and we shall see him as he is: the Same.
and bombs outdo a burning bush’s flame.
In Israel fades your promise of peace,
and lawlesness pervades from west to east. Rejoice! Rejoice! — despite all this God came,
and we shall see him as he is: the Same.
O stem of Jesse — there’s a name that would
in Yorkshire at least be often ridiculed.
You knew before you came down to earth
the world would not seem changed much by your birth. Rejoice! Rejoice! — if God could himself splice
to Jesse’s root, where cannot he now rise?
in Yorkshire at least be often ridiculed.
You knew before you came down to earth
the world would not seem changed much by your birth. Rejoice! Rejoice! — if God could himself splice
to Jesse’s root, where cannot he now rise?
O Key of David — what you unlocked then
remains obscure until you come again.
Yet just as meagre David won through
against the might of evil, we can too. Rejoice! Rejoice! — God’s kingdom comes to free
us not with force, but gently with a key.
remains obscure until you come again.
Yet just as meagre David won through
against the might of evil, we can too. Rejoice! Rejoice! — God’s kingdom comes to free
us not with force, but gently with a key.
O Rising Dawn, O Dayspring — come and flood
these dark days with the light of all that’s good.
To those whose life feels dark as deep night,
may we be bearers of that hopeful light. Rejoice! Rejoice! — these antiphons now tell
of Christmas wealth we cannot buy or sell.
these dark days with the light of all that’s good.
To those whose life feels dark as deep night,
may we be bearers of that hopeful light. Rejoice! Rejoice! — these antiphons now tell
of Christmas wealth we cannot buy or sell.
O King, O Cornerstone — sustaining all,
despite the world’s indifference to your call,
at Christmas you to all people come:
Immanuel, God with us, every one. Rejoice! Rejoice! — God’s saving plans unfold
Though foolishly, with Christmas wealth untold.
despite the world’s indifference to your call,
at Christmas you to all people come:
Immanuel, God with us, every one. Rejoice! Rejoice! — God’s saving plans unfold
Though foolishly, with Christmas wealth untold.
Selenehelion
The ancients saw their moon disappearing in a bath of blood,
Taken from them in a heavenly sacrifice.
For me, the celestial drama was gentler.
If bloody at all, there was the congealed clot of healing:
The solstice moon scabbed over,
To rise, renewed;
It was a russet moon, retaining
a final fling of autumn, as a flink
of light clung on to the limb
of the lunar rim like a jewelled ring.
Deep frozen, it set through haze
With it's blankened face
Masked in a shadow;
Its night given way to the morrow.
In stillness, chilled to the marrow,
I watched the space where it was
brighten and fill with blue light
Taken from them in a heavenly sacrifice.
For me, the celestial drama was gentler.
If bloody at all, there was the congealed clot of healing:
The solstice moon scabbed over,
To rise, renewed;
It was a russet moon, retaining
a final fling of autumn, as a flink
of light clung on to the limb
of the lunar rim like a jewelled ring.
Deep frozen, it set through haze
With it's blankened face
Masked in a shadow;
Its night given way to the morrow.
In stillness, chilled to the marrow,
I watched the space where it was
brighten and fill with blue light
as the sun rose behind me.
And though I know how it happened,
I still wonder, quite,
And though I know how it happened,
I still wonder, quite,
Selenehelion
The ancients saw their moon disappearing in a bath of blood,
Taken from them in a heavenly sacrifice.
For me, the celestial drama was gentler.
If bloody at all, there was the congealed clot of healing:
The solstice moon scabbed over,
To rise, renewed;
It was a russet moon, retaining
a final fling of autumn, as a flink
of light clung on to the limb
of the lunar rim like a jewelled ring.
Deep frozen, it set through haze
With it's blankened face
Masked in a shadow;
Its night given way to the morrow.
In stillness, chilled to the marrow,
I watched the space where it was
brighten and fill with blue light
as the sun rose behind me.
And though I know how it happened,
I still wonder, quite,
And though I know how it happened,
I still wonder, quite,
Advent surprised us
Advent surprised us this year,
Sneaking out to jump on the tail of autumn,
Making all things new with its smothering of snow.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord" it announced
In its profound silence
As it blank-eted our unprepared ways,
Forcing us to stop,
Take stock,
Wind down the clock a while,
Admit that our busyness can always wait,
That, ahead of us, the dayspring from on high
Will come to give us light,
To guide our restless feet
In the hidden ways of peace.
Sneaking out to jump on the tail of autumn,
Making all things new with its smothering of snow.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord" it announced
In its profound silence
As it blank-eted our unprepared ways,
Forcing us to stop,
Take stock,
Wind down the clock a while,
Admit that our busyness can always wait,
That, ahead of us, the dayspring from on high
Will come to give us light,
To guide our restless feet
In the hidden ways of peace.
Advent surprised us
Advent surprised us this year,
Sneaking out to jump on the tail of autumn,
Making all things new with its smothering of snow.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord" it announced
In its profound silence
As it blank-eted our unprepared ways,
Forcing us to stop,
Take stock,
Wind down the clock a while,
Admit that our busyness can always wait,
That, ahead of us, the dayspring from on high
Will come to give us light,
To guide our restless feet
In the hidden ways of peace.
