At this first hour of the day
the deep vermilion sky
spreads it’s plume beneath the fading night.
The meadowlarks sing Prime
Liturgia horarum!
and call all life to pray.
The robins had preceded them
with Lauds, at 3am
calls and trills, high psalmic renderings,
“Non nobis domine
Sed nominee tuo,
tuo da gloriam!”
Still, before at midnight’s chime,
the crickets, Matins kept,
Vigils, Nocturns or Night Office
and praised while others slept.
So God’s world, Complined, awaits
Him Who paints the vermilion sky.
