Hello, Darling-est of Blessing

Hello, darling-est of Blessing

Beauty dressed in common clothes

Commodore of toil and testing

While time’s doorway spills in rose

Or in gray quilt, heavy-laden

With Unknown and all its dues

Hello, darling-est of heaven

Lent to we who use, abuse

Sundry hues of blue-gold goodness

What is man that Thou dost bless

And re-bless us with time’s 'Should-ness'

Mercy wearing morning’s dress

Hello, hearth of hope, fresh-fired

Lowered to the likes of we

Who leave much to be desired

In love’s true humility

Where the mouth is often willing

But the rest is often not

Hello, everybody’s darling

Patient bearer of our ought

Filling hearts with worship’s off’ring

What is man that Thou shouldst bless

And re-bless us with Time’s darling

Mercy’s sacred happiness

© Janet Martin

Psalm 8

 

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
    in the heavens.
² Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.
³ When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?^[c]

⁵ You have made them^[d] a little lower than the angels^[e]
    and crowned them^[f] with glory and honor.
⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their^[g] feet:
⁷ all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
⁸ the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

⁹ Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!