Page 4 - 1.News and Views Spring 2025 for Jim.

Us Helen Rouse

A calm, quiet room with a round ring of chairs,
a plain, wooden table and vase of flowers,
some books, a mic, a book of healing,
water with glasses and a box for giving,
at the Quaker Meeting House.

They sit in a circle, they hope and they wait,
adjusting their minds to a loftier state,
attention not paid to the dust on the floor
nor the shuffles and coughs nor occasional snore
at the Quaker Meeting House.

The door opens gently, a late one creeps in,
attempting to settle before they begin
with Advices and Queries or QF&P,
while the frail and weary let their minds wander free
at the Quaker Meeting House.

They worship as one and during the hour
the silence grows deeper and imbues some with power
to perhaps feel the spirit or touch of the light,
for a moment uplifted and hope within sight,
at the Quaker Meeting House.

Then silence is splintered as one stands and speaks
and tells gathered Friends of the love that he seeks
and entreats all those present to seek it with him
as he felt moved to speak - it came from within,
at the Quaker Meeting House.

Stillness resumed, the wind shakes the trees,
a cat tiptoes by, birdsong on the breeze.
A bright beam of sunlight spills onto the floor
as the daisies nod gently around the glass door
at the Quaker Meeting House.

Ten minutes left and they hold in the light
all those who need healing and those whose dire plight
needs succour and comfort, all over the world.
Then they shake hands together, their Friendship affirmed,
at the Quaker Meeting House.

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