The Hermit Prays the Liturgy of the Hours

Although he’s not a priest, he’s made an altar
Beneath his eastern window. When the first sun
Strikes the maple tabletop, the shine
Calls to him. It’s there he keeps his psalter
Between two beeswax candles. Christ Pantocrator
Gleams in red and gold, His life-book open
In His hand. Unreadable words, unspoken,
Catch at the hermit’s mind. He is no Doctor
Of the Church, only a man who, aching, kneels
In morning light, repeating prayers that come
Ready-made in his own tongue, though they
Lose much in this translation. Still, he feels,
As he waits, some seam un-sew itself inside him.
Words trickle out. They tell him what to say.


Sally Thomas

Sally Thomas's new book, Motherland, was a finalist for the 2018 Able Muse Book Award in poetry, and will appear from Able Muse Press in the fall of 2019. She is also the author of two poetry chapbooks: Fallen Water (2015) and Richeldis of Walsingham (2016), both from Finishing Line Press. Her poetry and fiction have appeared recently in The Agonist, Forma, Mezzo Cammin: An Online Journal of Formalist Poetry by Women, North Carolina Literary Review, The Orchards Poetry Journal, and Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry. She lives and writes in the Western Piedmont of North Carolina.


'The Hermit Prays the Liturgy of the Hours' have 2 comments

  1. October 4, 2020 @ 6:24 pm Henry HAM

    This is very enlightening, encouraging, and lovely in every way.

    Reply

  2. October 6, 2020 @ 12:34 pm Stephanie Traylor

    That was lovely to read. It’s very much akin to the poetry I like to write, so it felt familiar and comforting all at once. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply


Would you like to share your thoughts?

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

(c) 2024 North American Anglican

×