songs of comfort

evensong

“If I have wounded any soul today,/If I have caused one foot to go astray,/
If I have walked in my own willful way,/Dear Lord, forgive!”—C. Maud Battersby

1
angels of mercy
hold my hands
as loneliness my fear expands
no sooner sing
my broken lips
than on my tongue sweet comfort drips

2
soon would i sleep
the sleep of death
save that Your love extends my breath
thus futile thoughts
my heart conceives
crumble as vain recitatives

3
and can it be
my sun should set
before i claim my sobriquet
even a strayed
bird’s chant would woo
my heart from silent adieu

4
a descant from
the mockingbird
would not my grave think so absurd
red robin’s breast
bloodied and pale
an evensong might yet avail

5
far better still
wind’s lullaby
orchestras could personify
for when the soul
runs short of breath
the body must its dust bequeath

6
o how the amen
clings to me
heavy my eyes with mystery
my g-string taut
with cadences
resolves in perfect genesis

© Copyright 2020 March 29
by Clyve A. Bowen♫