where there's smoke...

The other day my little brother and I noticed a wisp of smoke spiralling from a poplar tree. But as we passed by, we saw it was really a swirl of bees.

I thought of the people milling around in white, gathering honey from the edge of a familiar field of weeds I didn't know hived bees.

I thought, too, of the kids we know here at the shelter, the unexpected places of sweetness and fury.

Lord grant us your grace and your truth. Honey and flame.


Ever Present Need - Steve Bell
Lyrics adapted from Daniel Ladinski’s translation of ‘Our Need for Thee’ in Love Poems from God.
Original poem by St. Francis of Assisi.

Darkness is an unlit wick
A simple spark would vanquish it
Truly I could burst to flame
Every time you call my name
Do I do for you the same

God is like a honey bee
Penetrates the soul of me
Dearly draws the sweetness in
Nectar of the meek love is
He in me and I in him

In our ever present need of thee
Grant we fathom peace
Fashion instruments of souls set free
For don’t the caged ones weep...

© 2003 Signpost Music.