December 6th

"Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.

    Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
   to the voice of my supplications!" Psalm 130:1-2

we know the quiet of mornings

as the world bustles awake and

the grieving lie in beds made

so much bigger by the absence

of loved ones.

we know the reticence of midday

eating our stale sandwiches 

sipping on the cup of bitter tears

at the table where the forgotten

always find a 'reserved' sign.

we know the silence 

of nights when the voices

of the mockers drown out

the whispers of children offering

prayers crafted from their 

loneliness.

and because you listen to

the cracking of those hearts

which everyone refuses to hear,

we know we are never

alone.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman