Solitary Cells

 
Like a great eye in the heaven
looking at a hermit hut
my God sees inside my little wall
and only He knows
whether I do His will
 
In the provided loneness
of my hut-like self
I listen or don’t listen
clean or don’t clean
build or don’t build
grow or don’t grow
pray or don’t pray
serve or don’t serve
love or don’t love
and no other hermit knows
 
He looks where no one else can see
He hears where no one else can hear
He speaks where no one else can speak
He loves where no one else can love
Before he sends me to my neighbor
 
(1990s)