September 6th

“when I think of you on my bed,
   and meditate on you
   in the watches of the night;” Psalm 63:6

even with all the lights
up and down the streets,
may i notice you, walking
in the shadows, caring for
the rough sleepers,
the lonely weepers,
the unnoticed street sweepers.
as the noise of the world murmurs
and all those thoughts i try
to control just won’t behave,
may i hear the gentle echoes
of the laughter of children,
the kind word i heard
a stranger offer to another,
the gentle grace which was whispered
into the weariness of my soul.
and as i stretch to find
a comfortable position to rest,
may i remember that you
hold all of us, all of us,
in your heart, so we have no need
to cling to all which would
keep us from sleeping in your peace.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman