By Nikki Blair
Psalm 98:4-9
in the silence of night, God
whispers a Word, delivering our salvation, and
shapes the light, revealing all that is right
in the silence of night, God
hovers over the waters of creation, the very waters of birth,
remembers that it is good
that it is love
on a starlit hillside,
in the silence of night, God
bursts out in song:
harp! trumpet! choir! glory!
makes known the jubilant gift of life!
(no subtle whisper–
no delicate glimmer–
no solemn scene–)
but cacophony! shout! hallelujah!
now river, sing! mountain, sing! creation, sing!
in the silence of night, sing!
sing of God’s marvels:
earth, star, green, dust, breath, Child!
sing of God’s mercies:
friend, partner, promise, justice, Kingdom!
sing in the suffocating silence
sing in the darkest night
for the whole wide beloved world, sing joy!