I THANK YOU

God, the Creator, made the stalk,

to serve my garland-making,

I give thanks for the pain I baulk,

my search, which stems from aching,

I give thanks, for the times I fail:

and turn, from strife to striving,

that I may give, be of some avail,

though sapped, beyond surviving,

I thank you, I thank you, I thank you.

I give thanks, grateful for feebleness,

to humbleness inclining,

humbly, a humble joy-bound quest,

humility past pining,

For tears, for tears I thank you too,

my open heart revealing

to the living, who yet, the living rue,

and cry for fellow-feeling,

I thank you, I thank you, I thank you.

I long, I long for things beautiful,

to ugliness indebted,

I give thanks for the conflict too,

of love, resisting hatred,

for my sweet dreams, the sleep I earn,

I give thanks to exhaustion,

to the flame flaring up in turn,

the hush of the breaking ocean,

I thank you, I thank you, I thank you

I give thanks, grateful for the thirst,

which gave away my weakness,

I give thanks, grateful for the bursts

of angst in deeds of greatness,

and that I love, and that I love,

with a heart drawn tight with pain,

my grateful thanks, lamb from above,

you did not die in vain,

I thank you, I thank you, I thank you, I thank you …