The altar of dawn

I place on the altar of dawn:

The quiet loyalty of breath,

The tent of thought where I shelter,

Waves of desire I am shore to

And all beauty drawn to the eye.

May my mind come alive today

To the invisible geography

That invites me to new frontiers,

To break the dead shell of yesterdays,

To risk being disturbed and changed.

May I have the courage today

To live the life that I would love,

To postpone my dream no longer

But do at last what I came here for

And waste my heart on fear no more.

---

JOHN O'DONOHUE

Excerpt from 'A Morning Offering' found in his books,

To Bless the Space Between Us (US) / Benedictus (Europe)

Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland

Photo: © Ann Cahill