Isaiah 50:4-9

Morning by morning
God wakens my ear
so my tongue may learn
to sustain weary souls
with a word.

What word, Lord?
Persevere?
Submit?
Endure?

Those who speak
hope to the weary—

“Come to me, all you who
labor and are heavy-burdened…”
for “I have a dream…”—

are liable
to humiliation,
torment,
death…
vindication!

Waken my ear…
teach my tongue…
help my spirit, O Lord,
that I may speak a word
and not be put to shame.

                                                                        —Judith Boogaart