Dear Great and Holy Spirit,

We call out as children lost
lost in our grief
lost in our hurting of one another
lost in the fury that moves with danergous contagion

We call out knowing that these losses
happen every day somewhere
happen to so many each year
in so many places
happen everywhere else

We call out for the ones we know
the ones who aren't here
the ones near the fire
the ones who pass the fire
and the ones who will receive the flames next

So little we know of mercy and peace
so little we understand how we hurt one another
Wash us in our grief
wash us of our unknowing

John Calvi, Putney Monthly Meeting, Putney, Vermont