Hound of Heaven Hymns - before a pilgrimage

Poetry list

before a pilgrimage

part of a journey

it began before me
and yet I was there
set in the before
not an idea or
a twinkle but
in the heart the
centre of love
which is my
centre and my
essence yet in one
sense I am not I
don’t exist
only we thou
us all and
especially nothing
here is the start
and the end of
every journey
and enterprise
as it is taken
converted
suffused beyond
the recognition of
self and control into
the mists of
mystery

there are particularities
in time location
and distance departure
and destination the
excitement of
anticipation the
immersion of engagement
the senses which delight
and disappoint the
encounters of the
other and the

isolation and apogee
of self a regard
of deception and
discovery a bottomless
void where all can
be won and lost
though the winning
is the loss here is
the alchemy of being
the transformation of
the journey where the
changing scene is
but an illusion of
time and timidity
sore feet soar
feat the road and
ride the wilderness
and the way sing
and cry and
reveal if we dare
but look not with
our I’s but eyes the
sights that seduce
us into the holy
and such a
different power
overshadows with
a radiant light
and we float
float away un
tethered beyond
memories and
meaning into
the start and the
end at the same
time and in
the neverness of
being known