Greetings friends.

In my last post, I spent some time contemplating a question:

If I’m actually praying a prayer, how could it even occur to me that I might in fact not be praying, but instead simply be reading the words of the prayer? (substitute here ‘reciting the words of the prayer in rote fashion’)

Well, for today’s post I have a poetic offering which I composed several days ago. It’s actually words of my own built around – embracing even – an already existing prayer: the Mahā-mantra, which is better known as the Hare Krishna mantra.

While making notes for that post, my mind at one point drifted to that poem. So, after finally publishing the post, I reread the poem a few times.

It struck me that, rather than creating a simple poem, I had instead composed another and distinct prayer of my own, which incorporates the Mantra. That was a revelation to me.

It’s a poem, no a prayer, of gratitude. And of praise also. It has a structure and a cadence that has me sensing that it is a prayer to be prayed, and not simply a poem to be read as words on a page – or screen.

It is with that gratitude and with love that I humbly offer these words – this prayer – to you.

TAKE THE LORD’S NAMES

‘Going to chant for a while’.
    Hare Krishna
A refrain often heard
    Hare Krishna
Here in this place
    Krishna Krishna
In this hermitage
    Hare Hare
In this place of abode of hermits
    Hare Rama
In this paradise for hermits
    Hare Rama
In this place of refuge
    Rama Rama
In this safe haven
    Hare Hare
Where we servants serve
    Hare Krishna