At the Bus Stop (A Villanelle)

The day begins while the night retreats.
Twinkling stars put their light away,
And the moon shows forth her final feats.

Flocking geese sound their classic cry,
Protest a lone bird’s will to stay.
The day begins while the night retreats.

Breezes blow softly, the clouds roll by
Moving steadily on their way,
And the moon shows forth her final feats.

A peeking sun rubs her sleepy eye.
The small birds squawk as if to say,
The day begins while the night retreats.

Dawning brightens a once-black sky,
Silhouettes evergreen across the bay,
And the moon shows forth her final feats.

Night bids the fading stars good-bye.
A yellow sun leaps out to play.
The day begins while the night retreats,
And the moon shows forth her final feats.

 

Edit: For a definition of villanelle and an example of Dynan Thomas’s famous villanelle, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” see Poets.org

The Spirit of Jesus Listening In Us by Henri Nouwen

Listening in the spiritual life is much more than a psychological strategy to help others discover themselves. In the spiritual life the listener is not the ego, which would like to speak but is trained to restrain itself, but the Spirit of God within us. When we are baptised in the Spirit – that is, when we have received the Spirit of Jesus as the breath of God breathing within us – that Spirit creates in us a sacred space where the other can be received and listened to. The Spirit of Jesus prays in us and listens in us to all who come to us with their sufferings and pains.
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When we dare to fully trust in the power of God’s Spirit listening in us, we will see true healing occur.