Wrote this poem a couple days ago… it’s the first that I’ve written in months, and I feel pretty good about it… maybe I haven’t lost my touch. 
Always
There is a sound in the night
and the ears do not hear it
but the heart beats with it…
a whisper in the trees,
a ripple in the waters,
a longing,
a memory…
We have known pain,
scattered in the dark,
smeared in the blood
of our being,
and our crying,
of our aching,
our waiting,
our dying…
Yes, we have known pain.
And what answer,
what answer?
What comfort?
What hope?
A million voices have
a million answers:
the scientist with his theories of the mind,
the statesman with his promises, his lies,
the preacher with cold fire,
and desperation, in his eyes…
but something is missing,
something is missing…
The sound in the heart,
it beats too loud to be analyzed,
you cannot govern what has no boundaries,
and no box nor building can contain it…
Where is the beauty?
Where is the wonder?
Where is the joy?
The beauty of the heavens,
the wonder of a child,
the joy of home?
Where are the dreams that
awaken us?
The hopes that
keep us alive?
We are often disappointed,
even wounded,
by the answers the world gives,
by the answers we sometimes
give each other…
as if theories or speeches
could wash away our sins and failures,
as if doctrines or sermons
could heal and mend
our hurts and harms…
But what do we have?
What do we have
to hold to?
We still have each other,
though broken we may be…
And there is a dream, a hope,
running from generation to generation,
that one day all wars will end,
and peace will reign,
when beauty will blossom like spring,
when wonder will dance in our eyes,
when joy will put grief to rest,
when death comes to an end,
when real life truly begins…
But until that day,
this life we live
has its pain, its loss,
there are times we carry a cross,
and there are times
it just doesn’t make sense…
But we are here besides,
and though it can be heavy,
we have each other,
though broken we are now,
and we can believe,
hold to what is good,
we can live and love,
we can talk with each other…
And as our hearts beat,
there is a sound in the night,
and here,
the one that listens when
we whisper ‘thank you’
and mean it with
all that we are,
and listens when we ask,
fragile, frail, fumbling creatures
that we are,
when we ask
‘are you there? are you here?
do you love me? do you love us?
can we trust you? do you understand?’
And in the silence
of the night,
there is a sound,
in the heart, a voice whispering:
‘Always.’
Blessings to you, and hope this encourages you. 