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.

Lord,

let me live as I will!

I need a little wild freedom,

a little giddiness of heart,

the strange taste of unknown flowers.

For whom else are Your mountains?

Your snow wind? These springs?

The sheep do not undersatnd.

They graze and graze,

all of them, and always in the same direction,

and then eternally

chew the cud of their insipid routine.

But I–I love to bound to the heart of all

Your marvels,

leap Your chasms,

and, my mouth stuffed with intoxicating grasses,

quiver with an adventurer’s delight

on the summit of the world!

Amen.