afterimages

My heart overflows with noble words.†
To the king I must speak the song I have made, *
My tongue as nimble as the pen of a scribe.

Again, today
we recount
the lord’s mighty deeds
tales of whip-ass, long ago
and end with the wedding song.

but we live in these latter-days
assailed by the dissonance of battle
and boredom and want
the wicked prosper
and I’ve got no whip-ass

So today I lean on the teaching of St. John Damascene.

By the blessing of the Holy Spirit, you prepared my creation and my existence, not because man willed it or flesh desired it, but by your ineffable grace. The birth you prepared for me was such that it surpassed the laws of our nature. You sent me forth into the light by adopting me as your son and you enrolled me among the children of your holy and spotless Church.

You nursed me with the spiritual milk of your divine utterances. You kept me alive with the solid food of the Body of Jesus Christ, your Son. You delighted me with the cup of his life-giving Blood.