CONFESSIONAL
Red fire of dawn burning in the sky,
Leaping from the purple embers of the night,
A sovereign glory in a sapphire cup,
This is my altar light.
Rising from an early-kindled hearth,
A pungent veil of smoke spirals in the air,
And seems the incense drifting on my heart,
That sanctifies my prayer.
From beyond uncharted seas the wind,
Like pilgrim priest, comes to bless the waking sod,
And shrives me in my penitence, then bears
My sorrow up to God.