Oath of the Sailor
Every mariner entering a ship’s company
was required to subscribe to a series of articles constituting the fundament of
life, reward, and punishment aboard the vessel. This particular oath is made to
God, the surest guide and Captain. Dedicated to Sarah.
Who shall teach
me to walk across
waters amidst
men? They who perfect
heart and
perfect faith to well command
a light, not
lead-heavy, heart filled with
sure breath of
heaven are not found here
to teach me
step that flies. Even amidst
the salt so
sharp in judgment could not
glide but a bit
above the swelling seas,
that more than
driest desert in ice bonded
test their
strength, though wisest. What
wind shall know
my fear and take it
with gentle
touch and ray of sun,
then last bit
dispel the residue to
swiftly pull me
as high as aided men
do go, and when
the squall doth squeal
bloody death to
all, stand as if on surest
mountain on
tiny grain of faith? What
line will bind
and spread this heart
of rock as
freest sail of whitest cloth?
Stella Maris!
Virgin Mary, sweet and
guide, enlist
for me the aid and captainship
of God! Lord,
grant me purity of mind,
let fall the
shackles of my pride, become
as child
blameless and blind to division
of known and
unknown. For I know
nothing, and
thus see everything as
gem of wisdom
to stow in tiny treasury
of soul. Upon
this shore I break mere
excellence,
where I jumped but once
my height on
earth, that I may though
fall in trough
twice my length, then
rise on crest
thrice more closer than
I’ve ever been
to sky. I bind myself
to happy king
and vicar of God upon
these waters,
and under hand, though
human, behold
yet living unbearable
and awesome
countenance of my Lord.
And in daily
grind and grumble may
the angel of
God send me peace, not
stopped and
hindered in this domain
without
highways of dirt. For this is
needle that
pierces space for divine cord,
to wide set
heart and thus propel spirit,
though
stretched at first then walking
lightly in the
gale made breeze of Holy Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment