I see You on the distant horizon at that line between sea and sky
Just can I see You, but only just. Is it You?
Above the smoke which separates land and Lord
Somewhere You are there.
You are,
I know.
I will soon have to go, and here I ask Your time
The burning, pulsating heat weighs down and I cannot see
Through the haze of Your immanence.
I am thirsty, I am dry, I am weak
For You, Your love, Your strength.
I weep with exhaustion before You on the sand
On my knees at my mighty task.
Why me? Tell me now ~
This impossibility of labours
Cannot be fair; it is not right for solely one
To carry the lives of Your children.
Your Children. For they are not mine, they are Yours
My call was as their earthly guide – we agreed.
Children, children everywhere
Dancing, untamed; heedless of me, of school
Of discipline and of You.
Where are You? My spirit is waning
I cannot continue alone. I am tired.
I am tired. I am tired.
I feel old.
Is this what You want for me?
I ask nothing except respite. Let me rest
Through your compassion and mercy.
Let me feel You, know Your presence.
Acknowledge me.
Fill me with Your grace and mightiness that
I may do Your work for Your children.
Our children.
Please, let me rest. Take them from me for a while,
Allow me to sleep in Your beloved ams;
Play with them, read the stories, and sing:
And let them please be safe while I sleep.
Deeply drinking in the night’s peace.
Hold them as Your own, that which they are
While I dream
Just, just for a while.
© Selima Gurtler
Selima Gurtler is a spiritual writer, philosopher, poet and Jnana yogi.
Her modern teachings to Self-Realization and Liberation are uniquely flavoured through the perceptive eyes of her Indian and European heritage.
Free copies of her books are available for download here: https://www.emwpeace.org/publications/
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Grace Archbishop Desmond Tutu are patrons of her work.
Title Image: Summer Study 2019 © Selima Gurtler