A RITUAL IS NEVER HOLLOW
By Lawrence Hall
Word count: 80
Rating: G
Summary: A poem reflecting on ritual.

A ritual is never hollow; sweet words

Happy ancient words from the dawn of time

Sung through the air, refresh like a waterfall

Discovered at dusk on a marching day

A ploughman bidding his beads to Jerusalem

A child who’d rather not sit still during Mass

A holy sister hymning along the Rhine

A wise man seeking still that elusive Star

Heal chaos through their living in the Hours—

Oh, no – a ritual is never hollow