"Address to the Lord" – John Berryman

Master of beauty, craftsman of the snowflake,

Inimitable contriver,

endower of Earth so gorgeous & different from the boring moon,

thank you for such as it is my gift.

I have made up a morning prayer to you

containing with precision everything that most matters.

“According to Thy will” the thing begins.

It took me off & on two days. It does not aim at eloquence.

You have come to my rescue again & again

in my impassable, sometimes despairing years.

You have allowed my brilliant friends to destroy themselves

and I am still here, severely damaged, but functioning.

Unknowable, as I am unknown to my guinea pigs:

How can I ‘love’ you?

I only as far as gratitude & awe

confidently & absolutely go.

I have no idea whether we live again.

It doesn’t seem likely

from either the scientific or the philosophical point of view

but certainly all things are possible to you,

And I believe as fixedly in the Resurrection-appearances to Peter

and

to Paul

as I believe I sit in this blue chair.

Only that may have been a special case

to establish their initiatory faith.

Whatever your end may be, accept my amazement.

May I stand until death forever at attention

for any your least instruction or enlightenment.