Seeking Sanctuary

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28 CLASSIC POEM: Sanctuary E. Nesbit THE young Spring air was strong like wine, The sky reflected in your eyes Was of a blue as deep-divine As ever glowed in southern skies. We passed from out the sunny lane Into the green wood’s shadowing; And, sudden, all Love’s words seemed vain In that calm temple of the Spring. Our god hears fair and tuneful words, And splendid flowers his altars bear; With choric song of leaves and birds, Another god was worshipped there. Silent, we passed the woodland, through The coloured maze that Springtime weaves– The light leaves dancing to the blue, The sunlight dancing to the leaves; I could not speak. I touched your hand At the green arch that ends the wood: ‘Ah–if she should not understand!’ Ah–if you had not understood! *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Sanctuary Donika Kelly SNIPPET: The tide pool crumples like a woman into the smallest version of herself, bleeding onto whatever touches her. The ocean, I mean, not a woman, filled with plastic lace, and closer to the vanishing point, something brown breaks the surface—human, … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]