i am a little church(no great cathedral) br far from the splendor and squalor of hurrying cities br -i do not worry if briefer days grow briefest, br i am not sorry when sun and rain make april br br my life is the life of the reaper and the sower; br my prayers are prayers of earth's own clumsily striving br (finding and losing and laughing and crying)children br whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness br br around me surges a miracle of unceasing br birth and glory and death and resurrection: br over my sleeping self float flaming symbols br of hope,and i wake to a perfect patience of mountains br br i am a little church(far from the frantic br world with its rapture and anguish)at peace with nature br -i do not worry if longer nights grow longest; br i am not sorry when silence becomes singing br br winter by spring,i lift my diminutive spire to br merciful Him Whose only now is forever: br standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence br (welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)br br e.e.