Prayer at dawn

(Contributed by Stephen Ramo)

I

The bus slashes the labyrinthine McKinley Street along global city, the streets are filled with emptiness like a wide embrace from a distant cousin. Soft music of Apo hiking society chase the doldrums of a fair silent night and the sameness of nocturnal immobility suffocating the ride to work at 4 am, and yet another song careened on the radio channel of the bus.

II

The mini store on the corner selling slick mini coopers looks abandoned, light brightens its windowpane thoroughly wiping off the thick black darkness enshrouding its mysteries and exposing the emptiness beyond the glass window manifesting an elegance only of symmetry but not of spirit, like a marriage devoid of love and unity, a golden chair filled only with air, spreading a lie of purpose, a bifurcation of self from true self, a psychology without the psyche.

III

A prayer spreads through my brain relaxing the tight grip of the rusty music penetrating my consciousness; remembrance of God at dawn is freshest air of enduring delight Quickened my nerves and massage my brain: illumination is light, prayer is illumination. Prayer at dawn is double light, the light of the moon wash away the dark deep invasions of the mind. It speaks in eloquent silence.

IV

For my mind to be filled I must empty it, for my spirit to be salvaged I must forget it, to bring remembrance of Him I must forget the remembrance of me; for there is no emptiness there is only replacement, you cannot be empty at anytime, you cannot pray to your self but you can pray for others; for the candle to light the room it must eat every drop of its life away.

V

The heart of loneliness is empty only when the spirit of utterance is stilled. Prayer is sufficient for me if I can contain the sun in my pocket but lo! I cannot fill the yearnings of the ascent of heart attached to the earth and detached from the unseen. I am unable to contain the sun in my pocket but I can make use of its rays, prayer can light the darkness of my soul, and forget the lonely sun and its blinding light.

April 18 201