prayers and a poem

i have always wondered what it would be like to be a contemplative sort of person, with a deep and rich spiritual interior connection and resonance with God. it has always been discipline for me, rather than a feature or a first impules of mine as my sort of person. my prayers are more often on the move attempting to do something, like change the world. praying is definitely doing something, i just tend to be on the move a part of the cause.

i was thinking about this the other day while reading a book of poems by wendell berry.
i like the part about the "thump" and the picture of passion at the end - when thinking about prayer.

AN EMBARRASSMENT

"Do you want to ask
the blessing?"

"No. If you do,
go ahead."

He went ahead:
his prayer dressed up

in Sunday clothes
rose a few feet

and dropped with a soft
thump.

If a lonely soul
did ever cry out

in company its true
outcry to God,

it would be as though
at a sedate party

a man suddenly
removed his clothes

and took his wife
passionately into his arms.