Ash Wednesday - by TS Eliot

Maybe you're going to church today - Ash Wednesday - to have ashes smeared on your forehead as a sign and reminder that "you are dust and to dust you shall return." Maybe you won't be going to church for that moment and that reminder. Either way, here are the closing lines from Eliot's poem "Ash Wednesday" so that you can take at least a moment and reflect quietly on your humanity.

Blessed sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,

Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood

Teach us to care and not to care

Teach us to sit still

Even among these rocks,

Our peace in His will

And even among these rocks

Sister, mother

And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,

Suffer me not to be separated

And let my cry come unto Thee.

For the text of the entire poem, follow this link.