Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer The freezing draught deeply bites A grey-robed priest he shuffles past “Let us Pray” the rector cites, My collar I raise, I glance at the words. “We have erred and strayed like lost sheep.....” [i] I strayed last night; I froze in the yard.... I erred and strayed, lost sheep was I “... we have followed the devices and desires....”[ii] Now on he drones, glasses perched on nose. Th’old man sniffs and agèd feet they shuffle...... My heart’s desires I followed, He knows “O God, make speed to save us.” The words, they echo in chantry cold. The chill - it muffles and stifles – is no reward Face down - in snow incarnadine behold; “O ye Ice and Snow bless ye the Lord....”[iii] An old crone, she coughs and gasps, The murky breath, it hangs suspended. “Lord, shew thy mercy upon us,” the priest he rasps “Mercifully hear us, when we call upon thee.” No mercy from me was shown. My fingers in pockets deep I thrust. So tainted with frozen guilt, I own For him in whom I betrayed his trust The old priest sniffs, a dew-drop hangs, To holy book is close and low. My innermost guilt my mind harangues My secret is buried by fallen snow, From whom no secrets are hidden? Who knows but thee, O Lord? To me, O Lord, is salvation forbidden? “Give peace in our time, O Lord.” “Let my cry, O Lord, come unto thee!” O grant to me thy peace, O Lord. [i] From the general Confession, Book of Common Prayer. [ii]From the General Confession as are later Quotations. [iii]A reference from the Benedicite