Author: Ian Trimnell

The great sea frees me, moves me, as a strong river carries a weed. Earth and her strong winds move me, take me away, and my soul is swept up in joy. Uvavnuk (Iglulik Eskimo, 19th century) translated by Jane Hirshfield Good evening and welcome to Evening Prayers That this evening may be holy, good and...

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night by Dylan Thomas Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do...

Solitude by Ella Wheeler Scott  Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone; For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has trouble enough of its own. Sing, and the hills will answer; Sigh, it is lost on the air; The echoes bound to a joyful sound, But shrink from...

Love is Reckless By Rumi  Love is reckless; not reason. Reason seeks a profit. Love comes on strong, consuming herself, unabashed. Yet, in the midst of suffering, Love proceeds like a millstone, hard surfaced and straightforward. Having died to self-interest, she risks everything and asks for nothing. Love gambles away every gift God bestows. .. Translated...

Prayer of the Farm Worker’s Struggle By  César Chávez Show me the suffering of the most miserable; So I will know my people’s plight. Free me to pray for others; For you are present in every person. Help me take responsibility for my own life; So that I can be free at last. Grant me courage...

To Live in the Mercy of God By Denise Levertov To lie back under the tallest oldest trees. How far the stems rise, rise before ribs of shelter open! To live in the mercy of God. The complete sentence too adequate, has no give. Awe, not comfort. Stone, elbows of stony wood beneath lenient moss bed....

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost  Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the...

Pied Beauty by Gerard Manley Hopkins  Glory be to God for dappled things — For skies of couple-color as a brindled cow; For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim; Fresh firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings; Landscapes plotted and pieced-fold, fallow, and plough; And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim. All things counter, original, spare, strange; Whatever is fickle,...

How Can I Repay You by Tychon of Zadonsk  How shall I repay your generosity, O my Lover? How shall I repay you for all you have given me? If I had died a thousand times for your sake, it would be as nothing. You are my Lord, and I am just clay and ashes, a...

My Heart Leaps Up By William Wordsworth   My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die! The Child is father of the Man; And I...

You who want knowledge, see the Oneness within. There you will find the clear mirror already waiting. Hadewijch II (Antwerp, 13th century) [translated by Jane Hirshfield] Good evening and welcome to Evening Prayers That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful, let us pray with one heart and mind. Silence is kept.  As our evening...

Che Fece… Il Gran Refiuto For some people the day comes when they have to declare the great Yes or the great No. It’s clear at once who has the Yes ready within him; and saying it, he goes from honor to honor, strong in his conviction. He who refuses does not repent. Asked again, he’d...