The Holy Spirit by Midnight

The End of the Holy Spirit,Teodoru Badiu




An Impromptu Meditation...

The office of those awake late at night.
Listen closely as their antiphon-- whispered but intelligible--
goes up in perfect unison.

A visitor is en route to join them in the responsory.
A wise traveler, like the Eliatic visitor of the ancient dialogues.
He turns the tumult to a soft breeze,
and puts wing-ed square circles to flight!

By the time he arrives, they are asleep.
He hesitates, but tucks them in
and anoints them with the oil of gladness;
to be washed away in the morning shower.

I shall stay awake a little later tomorrow night,
keeping vigil with the other tarnished saints;
my anonymous brothers,
scattered throughout the city.