Poetry Wednesday – March 10, 2010

This Great Lent, our first in the Orthodox Church, has been beautiful.  Unfortunately, I have been sedentary in my efforts to increase my prayer time and scripture studying.  Okay, I have been extremely sedentary.  Each night I go to bed and I say, tomorrow, Lord I will meditate more fully on Your grace.  Tomorrow I will strive to work out my salvation in that oft spoken of fear and trembling.  As I was finishing Evangeline and Other Selected Poems and Translations by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (instead of doing my Bible readings or prayers, I might add)  I ran across this poem. A convicted heart and still-too-few prayers later, I am still reeling over how this supreme and omnipotent God draws me nearer and teaches me even in my laze and disobedience.

Tomorrow (Mañana)

by Lope de Vega

Lord, what am I, that, with unceasing care,

…..Thou didst seek after me, that though didst wait,

…..Wet with unhealthy dews, before my gate,

…..And pass the gloomy nights of winter there?

Oh, strange delusion, that I did not greet

…..Thy blest approach! and oh, to Heaven how lost,

…..If my ingratitude’s unkindly frost

…..Has chilled the bleeding wounds upon thy feet!

How oft my guardian angel gently cried,

…..“Soul, from thy casement look, and thou shalt see

…..How he persists to knock and wait for thee!”

And, oh! how often to that voice of sorrow,

…..“To-morrow we will open,” I replied,

…..And when the morrow came I answered still,

………“To-morrow.”

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