“In One Voice” (poem)

by Lois Kauffman

The monks at Saint John’s pray the hours with one voice
A difficult task for the untrained and the hurried

The monks at Saint John’s pause between lines
Between stanzas
Between prayers
They speak together
Speak to the unseen

The silence gives space
The space is prayer
Prayer happens

Prayer is more than noise
More than people
Prayer happens in the silence

The monks at Saint John’s listen
Listen between the words
Listen between the lines
Listen between the prayers

The silence is uncomfortable
The silence is long
Nothing to hear
Silence

St. Benedict’s first rule: Listen
Listen in the silence
Listen to the words
Listen to the prayer
Listen to God
Listen with the ear of the heart

How does God talk?
How does prayer talk?
How does silence talk?

I listen: I hear
I listen: I know
I listen: God speaks
In the silence