Confession Kyrielle For Hearers
If I have uttered blasphemy
That you’re the root of the dark tree
Light and darkness are twins of might
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If I blasphemed the shining Son
That death awaits the moon and sun
That they are strangers without might
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If my teeth and serpent fingers
Harmed the fivefold god who lingers
Put animals and plants in plight
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If I sinned against the elect
Though they’re angels without defect
We opposed their words from the height
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If I in any way harmed life
If I put crawling beasts in strife
Put life that swims or flies in plight
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If I’ve done tricks and perjury
Harmful gossip and sorcery
Sinned with this self, put life in plight
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If I followed a wolf’s teachings
Ignored the wise elect’s preachings
And then worshipped the Prince of Night
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If my heart strayed from these four seals
From the four gods as ideals
Love, faith, fear, wisdom shining bright
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If I ignored the ten commands
If with my mouth, heart, self, and hands
Fell short due to my flesh in plight
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If my soul did not sing in prayer
My prayers did not fly in pure air
The four prayers not said with my might
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
I fail in giving the elect
Alms for the angels to collect
So the light can’t reach heaven’s height
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If I broke the fifty days fast
For my greed and distress amassed
I forgot the law at twilight
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
If I fail to confess and pray
To the kind elect each Monday
For I was lazy or lost sight
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
I failed in the seven Yimkis
To fast and celebrate in bliss
Failed when the Bema was in sight
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
Each day I make dark thoughts and deeds
Each day I grow dark words like weeds
Betraying the light of pure white
Forgive my sins! Have mercy, Light!
Manichaean kyrielle poem based on the "A Confession Prayer for Hearers" in the Manichaean Book of Hymns
Copyright ©
David Hyatt-Bickle
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