Candles at Advent

This is a Kyrielle - a French form of rhyming poetry written in quatrains (a stanza consisting of 4 lines), and each quatrain contains a repeating line or phrase as a refrain (usually appearing as the last line of each stanza). This poem was written in November 2005.

Candles at Advent
(A Kyrielle)

We walk in dark, our candles bright

This our procession into light

We walk on far, and chant and pray

Walk on, walk on, the pilgrim way. 

Around the gravestones, by the oak

We halt and hear the prophet spoke

Then walk on far, not here to stay

Walk on, walk on, the pilgrim way. 

We come now to the church entrance

We sing once more, our candles dance

Light on the darkness, shades of gray

Walk on, walk on, the pilgrim way. 

Around to church, at the font we wait

Water of life, sing and celebrate

After darkest night, comes newest day

Walk on, walk on, the pilgrim way. 

At the altar, we feast on bread and wine

We kneel in joy at sacramental sign

Here we are bound with agape

Walk on, walk on, the pilgrim way. 

Now blessing be of the Three in One

Renewed, once more, we have begun

To follow again, in prayer this day

Walk on, walk on, the pilgrim way.