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« Wake,
why sleep O my soul, why sleep so? For, behold, the end is near, and you
will have to answer on Day of Judgement. Take heed, then, O my soul, so
that Christ the Lord will spare you, He who is everywhere in the universe
and fills it with His presence.”
Kontakion from the Lenten Triodion
Come slight Breath,
come like a still small voice
in the clamour of the night.
Come! In your quiet kindness
bring me comfort at last.
Through the shadows of words,
let your ultimate compassion spring up
in my tired heart,
in my wounded body.
What can I give You,
You who are everything? I only have
a few blue tears
of penitence and love,
and gentle spirit clothed
in this body flesh!
Yes, I know,
I still have the dew on my lips
to sing to You,
and these work-worn hands
to trace
the dear reflection of Your face
in the diamond
of my desire for You!
Come! Be the final kiss
of peace in the noise and haste,
the fire of Heaven
in the blazing ice fields
of my body!
You alone, O Breath,
You alone can make of me
a living seed
of Your Light!
Have mercy on me, O my Lord!
In You, O my beloved Master,
rests my hope to taste
what lies beyond the senses!
Translated from the French by Norton Hodges
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