Words

Madeline L'Engle is one of my author heroes.  Here she is, perhaps at her best.

I, who live by words, am

     wordless when

I try my words in prayer.  All

     language turns

To silence.  Prayer will take my words

     and then

Reveal their emptiness.  The stifled voice

     learns

To hold its peace, to listen with the

     heart

To silence that is joy, is adoration.

The self is shattered, all words torn

     apart

In this strange patterned time of

     contemplation

That, in time, breaks time, breaks

     words, breaks me,

And then, in silence, leaves me

     healed and mended.

I have returned to language, for I see

Through words, even when all

     words are ended,

I, who live by words, am

     wordless when

I turn me to the Word to pray.

     Amen.