Everybody Has a Heartache

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Psalm 22:23-31 CLASSIC POEM: I Had Been Hungry, All the Years Emily Dickinson I had been hungry, all the Years – My Noon had Come – to dine – I trembling drew the Table near – And touched the Curious Wine — ‘Twas this on Tables I had seen – When turning, hungry, Home I looked in Windows, for the Wealth I could not hope – for Mine — I did not know the ample Bread – ‘Twas so unlike the Crumb The Birds and I, had often shared In Nature’s – Dining Room — The Plenty hurt me – ’twas so new – Myself felt ill – and odd – As Berry – of a Mountain Bush – Transplanted – to a Road — Nor was I hungry – so I found That Hunger – was a way Of Persons outside Windows – The Entering – takes away – *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Everybody Has a Heartache Joy Harjo … But you cannot argue with hungry spirits. I don’t know exactly where I’m going; I only know where I’ve been, I want to tell the man who sifted through the wreck to find us here In the blues shack of disappeared history — I feel the weight of his heart against my cheek. His hand is on my back pulling me to him in the dark, to a place No soldiers can reach. I hear the whoop-cries of warriors calling fire for a stand Against the brutality of forgetfulness — Everybody has a heartache — … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]