Darkness into Light: A Poem for Advent

“Light your candles quietly, such candles as you possess, wherever you are.” ~ Fr. Alfred Delp, martyred in Nazi Germany, age 38

As we enter the darkest time of year, my hope and prayer is that each of us will shine the light we have been given, be the light for one another.

Blessings to you ~ Rosemary 20rosepoet20@gmail.com

Candle-Prayer

In the small still shadow of a darkened morning
before the screeching of this broken world repeats,
I strike a match and set it to a stub of wick:
an offering of light being birthed yet again.

Before the screeching of this broken world repeats,
I breathe sacred flame-glow into heart, psyche, soul
an offering of light being birthed yet again,
a single, slender candle singing prayer.

I breathe sacred flame-glow into heart, psyche, soul,
imagine the brilliance of a hundred million candles
burning quietly on the edges of every dawn
before the screeching of this broken world repeats.

I strike a match and set it to a stub of wick,
my hope for this wounded world one fluttering flame,
a single, slender candle singing prayer
in the small still shadows of a darkened morning.

Author: remcmahan

Poet, writer, minister, wanderer, traveler on the way, Light-seeker ~ hoping others will join me on the journey of discovering who we are and were meant to be. You can reach me at 20rosepoet20@gmail.com or at my blog, Spirit-reflections.org. View all posts by remcmahan

6 thoughts on “Darkness into Light: A Poem for Advent”

Dianne C says:

November 28, 2021 at 9:08 am

Love this poem, Rosemary! A perfect beginning for this whole Season of Light 🕯

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1. rosemarymcmahan says:
  
  November 28, 2021 at 9:35 am
  
  Thank you!
  
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2. Sister Ann Marie Klasky, CSSF says:
  
  November 28, 2021 at 5:13 pm
  
  I so identify with this poem. . I feel it in my soul as if you have given words to something that had no words, or at least not the right words, before I read this beautiful poem. . . blessed Advent. . let us go and BE the LIGHT!!
  
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  1. rosemarymcmahan says:
    
    November 28, 2021 at 9:11 pm
    
    Thank you so very much for your response and for sharing it with me. Yes, the Light is our call.
    
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  2. rosemarymcmahan says:
    
    November 28, 2021 at 9:12 pm
    
    Thank you so very much for your response. Yes, let us be light.
    
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chrismagrega says:

November 29, 2021 at 12:30 pm

I will share your heartfelt reflection in prose with my contemplative prayer group and ask that as we each light our “single, slender candle” it will be a flame of hope for our wounded world. Praise be to God for Advent, a time of stillness and anticipation, and for your words to us, Rosemary. 🙏💕

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