T. G. V.

Could I pray like the trees, lifting their arms,
Pointing high to the sun, the branches waving,
The leaves a-rustle with wordless praise, savoring
Air and breeze? Or could I pray like worms

Or rootlets, reaching down and delving lower,
Seeking the sources? Or could I pray like the birds,
Soaring aloft, darting, skimming, their words
Soulful songs of joy and love and power?

Or could I pray like the fish, moving freely
And silently, gliding, hovering, searching far
Below in a deeper realm? No. My prayer
Is like a tourist on T. G. V. appealing

For patience and love for the noisy, bratty kids
Sharing the carriage with lucky me in their midst.

(155, July 8, 1994)

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Comments

TGV stands for the French high speed rail system – Train à Grande Vitesse. My Dad loved visiting France and for many years spent weeks cycling there.

[John Alvord, 1/5/2026]