Our Mother, Who Art Beside Us [Poem]

by April Vinding September 08, 2016

Our Mother, who art beside us,

thank you for knowing my name.

Kingdoms overcome, my will all undone:

unearth what remains of heaven.

Give me this day—

my daily bread.

And outlive my doubts, as I’m a shouter and coward.

Cradle me after temptation, and remain through each damned sequel.

For thine is the freedom,

each flower,

and all story,

Forever Endeavoring. Amen.

April Vinding

Author

April Vinding is the author of Triptych, a spiritual memoir, and teaches writing at Bethel University. She received an MFA from Hamline University and lives with her family in leafy, literary Minnesota. More at www.april-vinding.com.

Comments will be approved before showing up.

Also in Ruminate Blog

To be Lost in Space

by Gyasi Byng July 20, 2017

Any honest PhD candidate will tell you that our work can be isolating. Even though a great deal of our work involves interaction (teaching, office hours, comparing notes with colleagues, attending lectures, and sometimes venting with other students about how we never have enough time), the majority of our work requires great stretches of time spent alone.

Editors Ruminate: On the Poetry of Issue 43, Opening the Door

by Kristin George Bagdanov July 14, 2017 1 Comment

I’ve always loved the etymology of kindness, which comes from kin—those to whom we are bound by choice or genealogy. And yet I often find kindness is most difficult to practice with my family—those who have witnessed just how unkind I can be.

Finding Space to Write

by Jeremy B Jones July 05, 2017 2 Comments

Last summer, the book project I was in the midst of was mapped out on a drafting table in my writing space: sheets of paper with lists and quotes, photographs and maps, excerpts from 19^th century books on gold mining.

_____________________________________________

Featured blog post:

Finding Thin Places
by Anne Boyle

_____________________________________________

Subscribe to the magazine

Ruminate is a reader-supported magazine helping you slow down, encounter honest story-telling and art, and awaken your heart. Learn More
_____________________________________________

Follow

Our days are often busy and loud, yet we feel empty and asleep. Storytelling and art reminds us to slow down and live more fully awake with compassion, creativity, and curiosity. Subscribe and join our community—let's stay awake together!

Join 6,000+ members of the Ruminate community on a journey to awaken more compassion, curiosity and creativity in our lives.