The Vicar’s Bench
Steeping in the Mystery...
From bench to page—poems, prayers, and musings from
Benjamin Martin, minister and poet.
May 2024
O Beloved Spirit,
We have not escaped the tenderizing
that comes by way of grief and goodbyes.
We have not escaped the regret
that comes by way of our own hubris.
We have not escaped the disappointment
that comes by way of unmet goals and expectations.
And yet, it does not escape us
that our blood flows like a river
through our hearts and is rejuvenated
by way of inspiration and by holy breath.
And yet, it does not escape us that our iris captures
hawk and eagle, elk and bear,
mountain and ocean, blossom and fruit—
so many sights granted unto us to see.
And yet, it does not escape us that our ears tune in
to the keening and crooning and cawing of birds
and to the music of harp and horn and drum—
so many sounds granted unto us to hear.
And yet, it does not escape us that our mouths
delight in honey and bread and spice
In the flavorful and the delectable—
so many tastes to be sampled, to nourish us.
And yet, it does not escape us that our hands and feet
bring us in touch with the Earth,
our mesmerizing mother who sustains us
and take us on adventures into the new and the unknown—
so many touches of holding and being held to be explored.
And yet, it does not escape us that our intake of air
can awaken us to scents of lavender and roses
of cardamom and cinnamon, of cookies and pies—
so many aromas to translate into pleasure.
We have not escaped this life unscathed by
what has darkened the hues of our Being.
And yet, it does not escape us how joyful
this Moment is,
steeped in the gifts
of sights and sounds and tastes and touches and scents.
For the joyful Moments we have been granted:
friend-to-friend, lover-to-lover, parent-to-child, teacher-to-student.
we are forever grateful. Joy ever joy.
