on prayer | 9

 -
Psalm: First Forgive the Silence

First forgive the silence
   That answers prayer,
Then forgive the prayer
   That stains the silence.

Excuse the absence
   That feels like presence,
Then excuse the feeling
   That insists on presence.

Pardon the delay
   Of revelation,
Then ask pardon for revealing
   Your impatience.

Forgive God
    For being only a word,
Then ask God to forgive
   The betrayal of language.

(Mark Jarman, Five Psalms)
-