Lectionary Poetry – First Sunday in Lent (Year C)

With the dawn of a new church year, we have launched a new feature on our website, a weekly post of poetry that resonates with the lectionary readings for that week.

 
 

*** Revised Common Lectionary ***

Lectionary Reading:
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

 
 

CLASSIC POEM:

The Dwelling Place
Henry Vaughan

What happy secret fountain,
Fair shade or mountain,
Whose undiscovered virgin glory
Boasts it this day, though not in story,
Was then thy dwelling? Did some cloud,
Fixed to a tent, descend a shroud
My distressed Lord? Or did a star,
Beckoned by Thee, though high and far,
In sparkling smiles haste gladly down
To lodge light and increase her own?
My dear, dear God! I do not know
What lodged Thee then, nor where, nor how;
But I am sure Thou dost now come
Oft to a narrow, homely room,
Where Thou too hast but the least part:
My God, I mean my sinful heart.

*** This poem is in the public domain,
and may be read in a live-streamed worship service.

 
 

CONTEMPORARY POEM:

The Fortress
Louise Glück

SNIPPET:

There is nothing now. To Learn
The lesson past disease.
Was easier. In God’s hotel I saw
My name and number stapled to a vein
…

[ READ THE FULL POEM ]

 
 

<<<<<< PREV. POEM |
NEXT POEM >>>>>>