Missa Brevis
Kyrie
Knotgarden of dreams and desires, deeds done,
Years lie telling on the heart,
Reality of our nature, search of the soul,
Immanence of judgement demanding truth:
Earth is itself in need of mercy.
Gloria
Gold bright vision of winged messengers
over vast lands, mountains, seas
Light illuminating a sought-for path to peace...
to connection, brotherhood, end of strife
Oration of praise, adoration, glory...
gifts given, life lived, love lavished,
Realisation that we humans pass by as grass...
as all is vanity, and none escape the welcoming arms of death
Intimation of sorrow, need for restitution...
for remembrance, prayer, petition, pardon
Awe in face of the highest, the stars, the unknown beyond...
therefore we say, Amen,
Amen to the ancient hallowed hymn of thanksgiving.
Credo
Cosmic utterance of Man's conceiving,
scholars assenting late in time,
Re-creation of the primal Word
in striving to name that which is unnameable,
Elemental claim on redemption's story,
delivered in image, in sublime narrative,
Denial defied in the face of negation,
mortals entrusted with their apprehension
Obeisance for many in uttered devotion
on sabbath after weekly honoured sabbath.
Sanctus
Song of the cherubim and seraphim,
calling one to another high in the temple,
Aloud they cry across the wide-arched vaulting
of spirit-infused world's abundance,
Now brought before our eyes on canvas
by Raphael, Leonardo, Botticelli,
Cleansing unclean lips with burning coals,
offering purging remedy to those in need,
Telling of the coming presence in our hearts
and at the altar,
Unafraid to sing hosannas while we in adoration join
with Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven
Standing with a host who gave words music's voice
for blessed generations
at heaven's invocation
Agnus Dei
Across fields in freshest springtime
Gambolling lambs play near their dams
Never straying very far away,
Unaware of how they touch the hearts of humans that
See in them an innocence, perhaps
Depicting one who suffered on the Cross.
Each of us in our own ways stands here in need of mercy,
I and you, he and she, our leaders, the world,
yearning for that far away, elusive realm of peace:
Pax, pace,
Frieden, Heiwa,
Mir, Amani,
Shanti, Shalom.