THE MAELSTROM

What torrent! What unrest! This darkness that presses in on me at all sides. Let the sun continue to rest, let it not present itself again. Let the night envelope me still and the peoples be hid. Let the birds cease their songs and the stars to remain overhead. Stop this day from advancing and make still the clock. What darkness presses in on me!

There is no tree, no flower, nor grass. No sky and no wind. There is no earth fertile underfoot or rocks and valleys. There is neither warm nor cold, this one nor that one. They all pass away. I scream and cry out, I beg and I plead. End this madness. There are no buzzes or creeping things. There is no light and there is no sea. All things are without salt and dull to me. All things are painful. All things are broken and not counted.

All a maelstrom before my eyes going down into the deep abyss below. In violence we take our steps. How many more days? How long until it is through? When will these things pass away? I can’t take anymore sorrow. All things make me sad, the words that come out of the mouths make me low. I am continually pressed. Without warning my eyes are wet, I weep and long for the end of all things. Let it not be any longer, make it right and straight as You promised. How much longer?

It is a strong storm in my heart, unexplainable. I can see the flaws and rust, and the death. I can hear the calamity in the earth. From the depths of my soul there is groaning welling up and growing. It crosses the plains as slow deep thunder felt by all of me. I am collapsed and I wail, I can not remember happiness any more. It has left me and I am left waiting for its restoring. You promised, and I await. Without this hope there is nothing holding me.

In the midst of my doing things I stop and look into the clouds, looking for you. My ears are always on alert for the sound of a trumpet. My insides are always searching for Your return, I wait day to day and not only for old age. Will I see you soon? Come and take me away!

There is no peace, only war. Perpetual war. I am alone it seems. My thoughts care for nothing else but for You. Let this find its way before Your ears. Consider me and think of me. Turn Your head and behold me. I think of no other. At constant you are on my heart. It does not end. When will these days be over? Make sharp my faith, my hope, my understanding. Tell me about the days ago, about the times before our father’s fathers. You were there and watching from the beginning. Please bring comfort I pray and rest, I am in this maelstrom.