the heart
there is a heart which
listens
listens to its
own and restless urge
and to its very voice’s
sweetness
free from rhyme and time
there is a heart from which
the world
is brought forth in time
unbroken
maintained and
arranged without fail
blessing prepared
by love outspoken
there is a heart so quiet and
so well hidden
that it escapes the casual
passer-by
although the
universe ever night and day
is conceived by it and
carried and borne
there is a heart which hears
and sees and knows
intends to set us
free from tyranny and griefs
it fires our zeal as it to
Moses did
and yields a yoke that
comforts and that leads
there is a heart so human and
so near
that there are human beings
mild and dear
endowed with
powers cordial and clear
and present and loyal and
ready and near
Nicholas
Tromp msc
JHWH
THIS IS MY
NAME
a voice resounding glows
amidst the bleating of the
sheep
in heat that makes us
shiver
a voice that calls to
arms
his who hears and sees and
knows
and cares for slaves
a nation forgetful of
dignity
consumed in
carrying and running
the voice calling Moses to
fight
and destroy routine and
slavery
declares a
willingness to help
in redeeming servile life
his name for us a weapon
faithful presence
liberating
the active one will not
sleep
remaining inscrutably
close
that name extinguished and
silenced
resounds again
illuminating the moment
when I treat and save
sisters and brothers
affectionately in the
name of God
should my body fail and spirit
roam
should my identity be lost
be then at my side in
untold ways
you more intimate to me than
I to myself
Nico Tromp msc
Based on
Exodus 3
Translated
from the Dutch by Ton Zwart msc and Carl Tranter msc