St. Francis All Alone Before the Canticles

I sought the consolation of the world
and found it brick-bat hard
and God said: by whom shall I comfort thee

by the little stars I said by the brooks from
rivers fed by the birds in exorbitant song
by all of these

and on my knees I cried.
knowing my lot was to be the Comforter,
and not the comforted.

mary angela douglas 30 april 2020