Living Psalm 123 – Pentecost 25A
Living Psalms Book
Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.
Sobre perros y piedras
En la playa hay perros con hambre
que mastican las piedras en la orilla.
El agua llega, desaparece;
las rocas se quedan quietas,
incrustadas en la arena del Pacífico.
Pasan avionetas,
barcazas precisas con cien vagones
y cargamentos;
pequeños pesqueros de la madrugada
entre los mangles, los pájaros y los peces.
A veces alzan la vista
a lo que habita el cielo.
El perro atiende a la piedra;
la piedra alimenta al perro.
Ya no buscan las manos de sus amos
cuando tiran cosas al mar
y el agua está brava.
La gracia es saber hastiarse
del menosprecio de los soberbios
en trajes de baño.
Guardar la pena en los ojos
y alzar la vista a lo que habita el suelo.
Las manos de Dios
no son las manos de los se�ores
las manos de Dios son solo para la arena
los perros y las piedras.
Of dogs and stones
There are hungry dogs on the beach,
and they grind stones on the shore.
Ocean water comes, and it flees.
The rocks stay still,
embedded in the Pacific sand.
Planes pass by,
precise ships with one hundred wagons
and cargoes;
small early morning fishermen
among the mangroves, birds, and fish.
Sometimes,
they look up
to what settles in the heavens.
The dog attends to the stone;
the stone feeds the dog.
They no longer seek
the hands of their masters
or the eyes of their maidens
when they throw things into the sea
and the water is rugged.
Grace is knowing how to grow weary
of the contempt of the proud in swimsuits.
To keep sorrow in the eyes
and look up at what inhabits the ground.
The hands of God
they are not the hands of the lords.
The hands of God are only for the sand,
for dogs and stones.
Living Psalm for Pentecost 6A – Psalm 45:10 – 17 was written by Maren Christine Tirabassi.
Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Maren Tirabassi, editor
Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.
© Copyright 2023 Maren Christine Tirabassi. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.
