The city at night

Rev. Jeffrey Symynkywicz, October 3, 2010

The city declares the glory of this marvelous human spirit!
It uncovers the flower hidden in the soul
of each and every man, woman, child.

The city at night about to fall is a holy place;
walking these streets I feel as though I am on holy ground.
How magnificent the clouds of witness
of my brothers and sisters who surround me here:

The ultra-thin model in the mall eating tofu;
Young lovers kissing outside the subway station;
Boys on their skateboards in front of the public library--

A jaded eye looks at them and sees living cliches;

The triumphant heart embraces them, dwells in them,
and returns warmth for warmth:

One swirling mass of common humanity
deep shared experience-- indeed, universal--
but magnificently refracted through the prism of life
into soul and self and each's own story—

loves and pains and tears and joy
and more love, always love--

I would hold them all close,
sense their coolness, feel their warmth,
and bless them
and say:

What have I done to earn the gift of your presence
on this holy, holy night?

jbs
7/16/99          10/3/10

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