the dark night comes, O Lord

how long will its damp shadows damn my soul?

barging in here,

unwelcome, unwanted, unkind

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and you, O Lord,

what bloody use have you been?

I cry out – you don’t answer

this frayed life of mine leaks out

and you are blind?

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do something, O Lord

anything!

answer me – show me some respect!

a dull nudge would do

lest I sleep the sleep of death

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light these bleak nights

rescue me, take me

where rivers run fresh and wattle grows proud

where bush warblers chase and chirp

‍

it’s crazy, but I trust you, still

your kind-heartedness leans in

agitating freedom

splashing grace helter-skelter

‍

I’m hitched to you, for the long haul

I can cop that

not by “happy endings”

not by “joy joy joy”

or any of that shite

‍

but by you,

under my skin and in my bones

even in my wild heart

you, my God

lay claim upon me

‍

so I rest

‍

so I say to this day, amen

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