Amen

This prayer is the same
in every language:
the rising and falling
the pausing and pleading

I have heard it in a strange church
and known it immediately

Holy, holy, holy one
first inhabitant of paradise
more perfect than us
make here like there
put all of this in order
earth and heaven alike
feed us
forgive us
teach us to mend and to heal
for we need you to be more
powerful, more permanent
than we know ourselves to be