Today, on this second day of Advent, we’re continuing to contemplate the virtue of hope, this time with the help of the poem O Emmanuel, written by the contemporary poet and Anglican priest, Malcom Guite. This poem comes from his book Sounding the Seasons and is being shared here with his permission.
O Emmanuel
by Malcome Guite
O come, O come, and be our God-with-us
O long-sought With-ness for a world without,
O secret seed, O hidden spring of light.
Come to us Wisdom, come unspoken Name
Come Root, and Key, and King, and holy Flame,
O quickened little wick so tightly curled,
Be folded with us into time and place,
Unfold for us the mystery of grace
And make a womb of all this wounded world.
O heart of heaven beating in the earth,
O tiny hope within our hopelessness
Come to be born, to bear us to our birth,
To touch a dying world with new-made hands
And make these rags of time our swaddling bands.
Before you go, just a reminder that throughout Advent, the daily poems and Sunday roundups will be free for all subscribers. The Friday essays, however, which tie the poems together with the week’s theme, along with the special Advent and Christmas recipes I’ll be sharing, are only for full subscribers. Until December 7, you can upgrade your subscription for 35 percent less than normal. Along with having full access to the Advent retreat, you’ll also have full access to the archives and all posts for one year. I want this retreat to be as affordable as possible for everyone, so hopefully this helps.
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