Sister Carmen Bernos de Gasztold was a Benedictine nun and gifted writer who lived from 1919 to 1995. She wrote two books giving voice to God’s animals titled “Prayers from the Ark” and “The Creatures’ Choir.” This summer I am sharing once again more of her pensive poems.

Dear God,

would You take your Light

a little farther away

from me?

I am like a morsel

of cinder

and need Your night

for my heart to dare

to flicker out its feeble star:

its hope, to give to other hearts,

what can be stolen from all poverty–

a gleam of joy.

Amen.