Oh comfort me until I fall no more.
In this dark season when I am so frail
And fearful, comfort me. I stand before
You in your house at evening. I avail
Myself of compline’s long familiar chant
To call on you. I ask you to prevail
Over the powers that dull and disenchant,
Over the scoffing of a world that’s steeped
In its own excess, and instead to plant
Me firmly by your waters, and to keep
Me as the apple of an eye, to hide
Me in the shadow of your wings. I’ll sleep
In peace and take my rest. I will abide
In your rich presence now, and when I wake
I will behold you, and be satisfied.
Psalm 17: XVII Exaudi, Domine is from Malcolm Guite’s book titled “David’s Crown: Sounding the Psalms” and is included here with his permission.
The featured image “Full Moon Emerging” is courtesy of Lancia E. Smith and used with her glad permission for Cultivating and The Cultivating Project.
Poet, priest, Chaplain of Girton College Cambridge, and academic, Dr Rev’d Malcolm Guite travels extensively throughout Great Britain and North America, to give lectures, concerts and poetry readings. He is the author of nine books, and fronts the Cambridge
rock band, Mystery Train.
Malcolm Guite
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