The saints and mystics
Had a name
For that deep
Inwardness of flame,
The height or depth
Or ground or goal
Which is God’s dwelling in the soul.
Heaven
Because God is there
All day and when
You wake at night
Think of that place
Of living light,
Yours and within you
And aglow
Where only God
And you can go.
None can assail you
In that place
Save your own evil,
Routing grace.
Not even angels
See or hear,
Nor the dark spirits
Prowling near.
But there are days
when watching eyes
could guess that you
hold Paradise.
Sometimes the shining
Overflows
And everyone
Around you knows.
Child has no one ever told you
God is in your soul.

The Selected Poetry of Jessica Powers  Edited by Regina Siegfried and Robert Morneau.  ICS Publications 2131 Lincoln Road, NE  Washington, DC 20002-1199  Reprint of the most extensive anthology of this noted Carmelite poet, which she approved five weeks before her death. Includes introduction by Bishop Morneau.

time – 4:00

Podcast: Play in new window | Download