Noblesse Oblige

Someone wondered recently
about my stamina.
I remenbered that once I
wrote about its source
or tried to. . . ..


Noblesse Oblige:
my constant liege


Add all power ever burst
by tempest or nuclear quake in
Words: Truth--fully
ready to cut or heal--still
mighty to free!

Sum all longing ever felt
by lame, lost, last ‘n least:
'twould never equal yearning
His must be:
wanting our free choice with such
catastrophe!

Count all risks ever ventured
by prophets, pilgrims, 'n pioneers:
'Twould never equal chance
taken when He
gave His life yet Father left;
abandoned Thee!

Reckon all love ever encountered
'tween lovers, friends, ‘n families:
'Twould never equal passionate
Love for me
in a Heart that yielded all,
nailed to a tree!

Recite all grief ever endured
for children 'n loved ones lost and gone:
'Twould never equal heart
ache for me:
when from Thee to self I turn
to view just me.






Heap all joy ever shouted
for children lost ‘n found again:
'Twould never equal great
joy for me
when I turn from self and sin
back to Thee!

Take all refuge ever sought
by sailors lost or stormed at sea:
'Twould never equal shelter
offered free:
safe harbor, peace-anchor
His heart bids me!

Figure all faithfulness ever kept
by saints and Gandhis great and small:
'twould never equal pledge,
lasting decree:
Covenant kept with us,
now given me!

Relate all gifts ever bestowed
by princes, kings, lovers and friends:
'twould never equal generous,
precious gifts we
brought to earth by maid when
"yes," said she!

Advent, 1984
Paschal Bernard Baute

Like Dante with Beatrice, I am seized and haunted by a vision of the Immensity of Divine Love that is simply inexpressible. Words fail. The above was one puny failed attempt, except for last verse.