There goes, here comes the sun, Son…
Thou gracious heavenly orb, at evening’s coming thou settest
granting today’s light to sisters and brothers half a world away
and calling for my trusting that thou on the ‘morrow willest rise again.
In thy parting comes darkness
thus, I pray to thy Maker,
the Maker of all things:
O Lord, for those who hunger for respite’s hush,
the rush and fever of the day’s efforts o’er,
grant greatest comfort unto their breasts
that they refreshed may greet the next day’s new light.
O Lord, for those who labor whilst others rest
grant strength of purpose
and safety through the dim-lit small hours
that they, with their best,
shall obtain to share grandest service.
O Lord, for those who under shadowy veil
traverse the trail
of evil’s spell,
grant the Light of Thy Goodness
that, exposing the barren bleakness
of their false fealty,
reveals unto them the luster of Thy Son’s Likeness
that they, in the soul’s clutch of repentance,
may
be free;
their hands empty
of impious rites.
Amen
Photograph: sunset, Maui, Hawai’i, August 30, 2011, 6.38 p.m.