Naming the Hours

MATINS

TODAY WE HAVE THE NAMING OF HOURS
AS OUR DAY BEGINS
WITH THE NURSE WAKING US
TO TAKE OUR TEMPERATURE
AND OUR PULSE
WE HAVE GREETED THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
ALL AROUND I HEAR
SORRY TO WAKE YOU
A LITTLE HIGH THIS MORNING
A LITTLE LOW
TAKE THIS MAGIC PILL
TO MAKE IT RIGHT
AND WE BEGIN THE DAY
BY TRYING TO GO BACK TO SLEEP
BUT NOT BEFORE I THINK OR SAY

LET THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED, BOTH NOW AND FOREVERMORE. FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN
TO THE PLACE WHERE IT SETS, THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED.

LAUDS

NOW IT BEGINS
THE WAKE UP CALL WITH BREAKFAST
AND THE MAGIC PILLS AGAIN
AND TEMPERATURE
AND PULSE
BRIGHT WITH PROMISE
WE BEGIN OUR DAY

O LORD, OPEN MY LIPS, AND MY MOUTH WILL DECLARE YOUR PRAISE

IN THE MORNING, O LORD, YOU HEAR MY VOICE; IN THE MORNING I LAY MY REQUESTS BEFORE YOU AND WAIT IN EXPECTATION

SATISFY US IN THE MORNING
WITH YOUR UNFAILING LOVE,
THAT WE MAY SING FOR JOY
AND BE GLAD
ALL OUR DAYS

THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH
AND MY SHIELD;
MY HEART TRUSTS IN HIM,
AND I AM HELPED.
MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY
AND I WILL GIVE THANKS TO HIM IN SONG


PRIME

WE ARE ASKED TO BEGIN THE DAY’S WORK
WHETHER RESTING OR HEALING
TESTING OR EATING
SLEEPING OR STARING AT THE WALL
BUT FIRST WE WASH
OR OTHERS WASH US


CLEANSE ME WITH HYSSOP,
AND I WILL BE CLEAN; WASH ME,
AND I WILL BE WHITER
THAN SNOW

TERCE


COFFEE BREAK TIME
NO ONE HAS EVER CALLED IT THAT
A MID MORNING RECOLLECTION
OF WHO WE ARE

THE LORD WILL SUSTAIN HIM
ON HIS SICKBED
AND RESTORE HIM
FROM HIS BED
OF ILLNESS

RESTORE TO ME
THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION
AND GRANT ME
A WILLING SPIRIT
TO SUSTAIN


SEXT


WE GIVE THANKS FOR OUR FOOD
AND ITS DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
NO SUGAR ADDED
OR NO SALT
BUT THE PORTION LOOKS INCREDIBLY SMALL


BE ALERT
FOR YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL
PROWLS AROUND
LIKE A ROARING LION
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE
TO DEVOUR

HE GIVES FOOD
TO EVERY CREATURE
HIS LOVE ENDURES
FOREVER


HE RAINED DOWN MANNA
FOR THE PEOPLE TO EAT HE GAVE THEM
THE GRAIN OF HEAVEN MEN ATE THE BREAD OF ANGELS
HE SENT THEM
ALL
THE FOOD
THEY COULD EAT


NONE


TEMPERATURE AND PULSE TIME AGAIN
THE GATHERING OF THE ENDS OF THE DAY
MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR SUPPER
PERHAPS A NAP
A QUIET RESTFUL TIME
A TIME TO SAY



BUT I HAVE STILLED
AND QUIETED MY SOUL
LIKE A WEANED CHILD
WITH ITS MOTHER
LIKE A WEANED CHILD
IS MY SOUL WITHIN ME


YOUR SUN WILL NEVER SET AGAIN
AND YOUR MOON
WILL WANE NO MORE
THE LORD
WILL BE YOUR EVERLASTING LIGHT
AND YOUR DAYS OF SORROW WILL END


VESPERS


WE HAVE WASHED OUR FACE FOR EVENING
WE’VE HAD OUR TEMPERATURE AND PULSE TAKEN
A FINAL ROUND OF PILLS
A CERTAIN SENSE OF SADNESS
AT THE END OF THE DAY
A CERTAIN SENSE OF FRIGHT
AT THE COMING OF THE NIGHT
A CERTAIN SENSE
OF BEING HELD IN GOD’S HAND

O LORD
I CALL UPON YOU;
HASTEN TO ME GIVE EAR TO MY VOICE
WHEN I CALL TO YOULET MY PRAYER RISE UP
LIKE INCENSE BEFORE YOU, THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE!SET A GUARD, O LORD
OVER MY MOUTH KEEP WATCH
OVER THE DOOR OF MY LIPS


THE LORD
WILL SUSTAIN HIM
ON HIS SICKBED
AND RESTORE HIM
FROM HIS BED
OF ILLNESS



COMPLINE


IT’S TIME FOR GOING TO BED
THE LORD GRANT US A PEACEFUL
PAIN FREE NIGHT
AND LET US WAKE UP SINGING


I WILL BOTH LIE DOWN
AND SLEEP
FOR YOU ALONE
O LORD
MAKE ME DWELL
IN SAFETY


KEEP US O LORD
AS THE APPLE OF THINE EYE
PROTECT US
UNDER THE SHADOW
OF YOUR WINGS
THE LORD BE WITH US
AND ALL OUR ABSENT
BROTHERS AND SISTERS

AMEN SO BE IT AMEN


FRANK A VOLLMER