More Clearly, More Dearly, More Nearly (For Richard of Chichester

I am in the process of going back and writing some poems that I missed earlier in the year, so that the final collection of these liturgical poems can start and finish as neatly as possible. Here is one for April 3 of this year.

More Clearly, More Dearly, More Nearly (For Richard of Chichester)

At the start or finish of
The day – of life – of every walk:

Thank You – Father, Brother, friend;
Thank You for all that You bear;

All insults and all burdens and
For all the benefits that flow.

And at every rise and fall,
Each morning and each going down,

I turn to You, to my Redeemer.
These three things, O Lord, I pray:

More clearly – that I may see Thee,
Though every day my sight grows dim;

More dearly – that I may love Thee,
Though every day my heart goes faint;

More nearly – may I follow Thee,
Though every step grows far apart;

These three things, O Lord, I pray;
On every new and final day.