Psalm For a Material Age

I sing to You 
from an empty vessel,
for You gave me 
my eternal voice.
All about me are lost, 
all are deaf
to Your voice 
as it flies on the wind
and none can see, 
all blind beggars
unaware of their 
deep, deep poverty....

Your beauty is everywhere: 
sunlight and moonlight and 
the grace of birds
in their flight of freedom, 
and trees standing tall 
as guardians and oceans
whose waves crest eternally, 
and Your grace...ah, 
THAT  is what holds
the Universe itself together, 
and in us it is 
the love that calms, 
the love that pulls 
meaning from death
and gives hope 
to those who reach out--
to You....
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Merryman Avatar
May 28, 2021 at 4:01 PM
LJ, I love this beautiful prayer you have written! Congrats on your win in Brian's contest! Blessings, Kim M
Idudje Avatar
May 8, 2020 at 2:25 AM
Congratulations On Your Place Bravo!
Carber Avatar
May 8, 2020 at 2:34 PM
Thank you, Gideon!
Idudje Avatar
May 8, 2020 at 2:32 AM
La France Avatar
May 1, 2020 at 10:17 AM
LJ, wonderful writing and congratulations on your win in Brian's contest _Constance
Carber Avatar
May 2, 2020 at 12:17 PM
Thank you. Constance--and may you go with God in these fraught times....
Kauffman Avatar
April 30, 2020 at 3:00 PM
LJ - congratulations on this poem prayer with its delightful and innovative imagery - "grace...that holds the Universe together," "an empty vessel," and so many more. So glad to see it on the winners list. Blessings!
Carber Avatar
May 2, 2020 at 12:19 PM
Thanks Sam--it's always a special treat to hear from you--may the Lord's Light shine on you and yours always!
Lamoureux Avatar
September 27, 2019 at 10:33 AM
So pretty, congrats.
Carber Avatar
September 27, 2019 at 11:35 AM
Thank you, Richard, I appreciate it
Andresen Avatar
September 27, 2019 at 4:40 AM
- Congratulations on your lovely winning poem,L.J. :) - // Anne-Lise :)
Carber Avatar
September 27, 2019 at 11:36 AM
Thanks, Anne-Lise
Mcintosh Avatar
September 26, 2019 at 11:19 PM
Congrats on your win... beautifully done. God bless you
Carber Avatar
September 27, 2019 at 11:36 AM
Thank you Regina, and may God keep you as well
Callus Avatar
March 18, 2018 at 3:09 PM
These words are inspiring and uplifting, L.J. David would have been tempted to collaborate with you! Congratulations on your merited win. Regards // paul
Carber Avatar
March 19, 2018 at 9:26 AM
Thank you Paul-- I don't think I've ever had so great a compliment, for I find it a bit wondrous how true the psalms speak to the human condition after 3 millennia.
Barden Avatar
March 18, 2018 at 3:06 AM
Heartfelt congratulations on your well-deserved win, LJ - blessings and best wishes to you, friend! :-)
Carber Avatar
March 18, 2018 at 10:16 AM
Thanks Gregory,and may God keep always you and yours, my friend.
Roper Avatar
March 17, 2018 at 6:13 PM
L.J., inspiring and well done , enjoyed reading.. Congratulations on your win! Hugs ~`*
Carber Avatar
March 18, 2018 at 10:15 AM
Thanks Eve, I'm glad you like it.
Andresen Avatar
March 17, 2018 at 2:23 PM
- A beautiful poem, L.J :) - Congratulations :) - Happy weekend :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Carber Avatar
March 18, 2018 at 10:14 AM
Thanks, Sunshine (great pen name!)
Gauthier Avatar
March 17, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Your second stanza is spectacular. Well done, L.J. Congrats.
Carber Avatar
March 17, 2018 at 2:06 PM
Thank you, Line-- you know, I'm always amazed at the occasional 'moment of beauty' that comes to me, always of its own volition it seems, unbidden.
 Avatar
February 18, 2018 at 4:54 PM
You could be a Sufi poet.
Carber Avatar
February 19, 2018 at 10:13 AM
That is one of the best compliments I've ever got! Ironically, I've been studying Sufism (Idries Shah,etc.) this past year, and have read some of the great Sufi poets, so perhaps it's 'seeped' through.
Imtiaz Avatar
January 23, 2018 at 11:19 PM
Beautiful Message "Your grace...ah, that is what holds the Universe itself together, and in us it is the love that calms, the love that pulls meaning from death and gives hope to those who reach." Lovely
Carber Avatar
January 24, 2018 at 9:48 AM
Thank you, Muhammad, I glad you liked it.
De Beaulieu Avatar
January 23, 2018 at 1:47 PM
Oh.. I can see why this poem a winner. Congratulations. Have a nice day my friend.
Carber Avatar
January 24, 2018 at 9:49 AM
Thanks Darlene, much appreciated !
O.J. Hunt Avatar
January 21, 2018 at 10:59 AM
Great poem, congrats on your win L.J.
Carber Avatar
January 21, 2018 at 1:10 PM
Thank you, Keith, I'm glad you liked it!
Godwin Avatar
January 20, 2018 at 12:45 AM
WOW - I see this is a winning poem, and I concur that is should be, was winning to me. Rarely do I fav poems (cause then I have to keep up with them), but all of me resonates with each image and line of passionate spiritual meaning - a beautiful interlude with Him. Felt that. All the best ... CayCay
Godwin Avatar
January 20, 2018 at 9:44 AM
Please share what NDE represents. I'm guessing Non-denominational something? Please educate me when time permits. My husband and I are both curious. All the best ... CayCay
Carber Avatar
January 20, 2018 at 7:46 AM
Thanks you CayCay-- Since I found God-- and the reality of my soul through an NDE in my troubled 20's, I've had at times the almost tangible sense that this world, one's lifetime, is truly a dream which sooner or later we all awake from.
Barden Avatar
January 19, 2018 at 11:52 PM
Sincere congratulations on your well-deserved win, LJ - blessings and keep up the wonderful work! :-)
Carber Avatar
January 20, 2018 at 7:50 AM
Thank you Gregory-- I appreciate deeply your kind encouragement-- though to be honest, the poems, all my writing, seem to come to me, unbidden, uncontrollable- my job seems to be to write them down before I forget them-- really!
Lamoureux Avatar
January 18, 2018 at 3:07 PM
Great poem, great win. Congrats.
Carber Avatar
January 18, 2018 at 10:16 PM
Thank you, Richard, I'm glad you liked it.
Gauthier Avatar
January 17, 2018 at 8:21 PM
Congrats on your very well deserved win, L.J.
Carber Avatar
January 17, 2018 at 10:18 PM
Thank you LG, much appreciated!
Roper Avatar
January 17, 2018 at 7:43 PM
Congratulations on your win! :-)
Carber Avatar
January 17, 2018 at 10:19 PM
Thanks Eve
A  Avatar
January 17, 2018 at 3:43 PM
L.C. Carber, thank you for entering my recent contest. Congratulations on your Awesome win. <3 SKAT
Carber Avatar
January 17, 2018 at 10:20 PM
Thank you Skat-- I am much honored, poet to poet....
Woodward Avatar
January 16, 2018 at 11:14 PM
I've never seen anyone write a Psalm before. Very cool! I really enjoyed your message.
Carber Avatar
January 17, 2018 at 7:42 AM
Thank you Laurie-- your kind words are much appreciated.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace