Now I Shut The Door

there's always something going on outside the window.
we learned this in school and were quickly brought to attention
by the teacher: eyes FORWARD

in the classroom where distractions were not encouraged.
now any distraction a thousand distractions at once crowd the air
the corridors of power or of squalor

but it's still the same thing when it comes to study.
are you going to study or are you going to let every leaf fall
every Redwood fall break your concentration.

will you stay in your own lane and accomplish what you set out to do
even for an hour a quarter of an hour or will you listen to those who want
the world to end right now

because they are bored especially with study that you know you are called to.

learning something new about the world in its joyful its beautiful aspect.
the lore of what went before or what may come after
the tears and the laughter of predecessors the memories of home.

the precious thing worth living for life itself: the knowledge of God
tending the beautiful, difficult sod knowing the harvest will come
if you pay attention

whatever else is on the news. don't let them use you. don't let them confuse you.

keep to your starry way.

I have been tricked into this many times before today 
now I shut the door and pray

and read. listen to symphonies. pray that Christ will come again and say:
PEACE. BE STILL. love cannot die. under the wide wide sky.

Be True.

mary angela douglas 3 june 2020