Advent Vespers

 The Holy Season of Advent begins at sundown with the lighting of the first candle of the Advent wreaths and the Office of Vespers this evening...an old meditation poem for this evergreen moment of turning towards the light in the midst of darkness follows...

Advent Vespers

At the thinnest time 

of the year,

when

the worlds whisper 

to each other 

across the cosmos,

and tell their ancient tales

while the darkness draws in,

we draw the cloak of comfort

close against the cold.

And,

at our vesper vigiling,

a spark is struck 

then

enfolded 

in the ever-green,

that circle of 

hoped for Spring,

sprinkled

with blood-berried scarlet,

of wounds wilding, 

and see

once again

time's yearning path

retold 

in leaves,

the slow greening

of patriarch's prayer 

and prophet's longing.

So we wreathe ourselves 

in hope,

again,

as 

a wavering flame 

proclaims 

faith's abiding presence 

beyond 

dark's doubting 

and 

invokes the coming 

of the One who 

is always present;

knowing that 

as flame will beget flame

until

the candled constellation 

is complete,

and our caroled voices 

rise 

to join the sister stars 

in their long remembering 

of that ancient night 

when,

once, 

they 

stilled their dance 

awhile,

and,

awestruck,

watched

the silent Word 

appear,

whose light,

now hidden 

beneath

Mary's mantle

and

settled on straw,

first

kindled their flame 

and 

set the measure 

of their orbit's pace.

But,

in this moment's breathing 

we 

simply stand 

and psalm our way 

to Advent's

gates of longing,

and there,

with open hands

and heart's made poor again,

we are gentled 

by a single flame's

appearing,

and watch 

soul's inward sky

for Grace's 

first falling 

flake,

as children

look up

and long 

for 

snow.