From Joseph Pearce's "Summer Theologiae"

Deep in the dark night of the soul

something stirs;

And bleary eyes,

depart from dream's dreary hole

as morning stars

in summer skies.

And ere sun rises

from sleep to slumber

and dawning of dawn, 

alone one rises

in Lazarene lumber

to meet the morn.

And the world sleeps .  .  .

As gloaming fades 

to stray and wander 

in gladdening glades

to pray and ponder;

a voyeur visitor,

impertinent impostor,

inquisitive inquisitor,

mumbling Pater Noster.

In stillness to stare

at solitary hare

that accompanies the prayer.

Does it know?

Is it waiting?

Is it, as I,

anticipating?

It knows,

though what it knows,

it knows not:

distinctive

but instinctive,

and oblivious 

of oblivion.

Subconscious friar

in Franciscan fraternity;

the hare's breath

is the hair's breadth

from here to eternity.

And the world sleeps . . .

And as the hare 

grassward grazes,

without a care

for heavenward gazes,

something stirs . . .

. . .

From "Flowers of Heaven - 1000 Years of Christian Verse", compiled by Joseph Pearce - Hodder & Stoughton 1999

Joseph Pearce

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