Time for a quick heart-felt sigh - from Kingo as usual

Heartfelt sigh

When I, O God, am out at sea

And foam-topped waves heave violently,

     ’Tis good to be recalling,

There is a sea within me too,

Deep in my heart’s core, dark of hue,

     Where mighty storms appalling

Do flash and crash both day and night,

All this though has been blocked from sight,

     So no one shall be learning

How all lies smould’ring in my breast,

How lava-like it’s upward pressed

     When I with rage am burning,

How I by worry’s storms am shook

In every vein’s most secret nook,

     How fear my mind keeps pelting,

How with my spirit blood makes free,

My pulse pecks at my hand with glee

     Till my heart’s all but melting!

Then salty tears I see can flow

From both my eyes, and they can show

     The spring whence they are jolting,

Their source lies hidden in my breast,

How salt it is, how sour, unblessed,

     And how its taste’s revolting!

O Jesu, I then sigh, I pray

This sea my life may not betray

     To force and cruel scheming:

If in a sea my life shall end,

Dear Jesu, let me death transcend

     In eyes from penance streaming.

                      AMEN