At the cradle

A manger crude, and bare

exposed to open air,

with ox and ass as witness

the birth of God's forgiveness.

At the meanest crib attended,

the Light of the World descended.

And a mother's aching heart weeps

for God's son upon hay sleeps.

Holly berries red as blood,

and pine and fir staked in the mud,

The sparrows feast on the berries

as the slanting sun ceases to be merry.

A festive holiday wreath 

for my child who lies beneath.

And a mother's aching heart weeps

for the child who in her heart, she keeps. 

Jennifer D. Behnke  - December 26, 2014 

Two Christmas Carols - Christina Rossetti (1830 - 1894)

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.

_______________________________

A baby is a harmless thing
And wins our hearts with one accord,
And Flower of Babies was their King,
Jesus Christ our Lord:
Lily of lilies He
Rose of roses, soon to be
Crowned with thorns on leafless tree.

A lamb is innocent and mild

And merry on the soft green sod;
And Jesus Christ, the Undefiled,
Is the Lamb of God:
Only spotless He
Upon his Mother's knee;
White and ruddy, soon to be

Sacrificed for you and me.

Nay, lamb is not so sweet a word,
Nor lily half so pure a name;
Another name our hearts hath stirred,
Kindling them to flame:
'Jesus' certainly
Is music and melody:
Heart with heart in harmony
Carol we and worship we.

O Adonai

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.


O Adonai, and Leader of the House of Israel,
who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush,
and gavest Him the Law on Sinai:
come and redeem us by Thy outstretched arm.


O Adonai - recorded live December 18, 2014

O Sapientia

Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!  O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.  O Sapientia - live recording December 17, 2014

As an Advent project, to sing and record all of the "O Antiphons" as found in the Liber Usualis in one take, no stops, no splices.

Drowning in Tech

The earth is still shaking from the last tremor,
A reminder that at any moment
the yawning chasm may reopen,
and swallow us all whole.

I do my best to shield our children
from the waves bursting angrily
lapping at their toes, and the sun blazing
down on their tiny innocent heads.

A scurry of confusion as they rush
headlong all hungry and weary from our trip.
But the first meal you make will not be for them,
will it my love?

When I have settled them to sleep,
my mothering guard finally dropped
I long for a conversation
or a kiss... but will find neither.

I have not the strength to fight with you
nor pull you out of constant preoccupation,
this self-feeding cocoon of stress
in which you disappear.

Don't you see that your son
is trying desperately to gain your attention?
Can't you tell that his acting out
is a cry of "notice me daddy?"

When everything he does is to seek your attention
And he is spurned at every moment.
You are breaking him, and watching that is breaking me.
And I can not continue to witness it.

I will find a lifeline,
and I will pull my children to safety,
and because you can't save yourself,
you will continue drowning in tech.

Jennifer D. Behnke - August 28, 2013

I Died for Beauty - Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.
"And I for truth, -the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met a night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.
___________________________
St. Augustine wrote: "cantare amantis est…" Singing belongs to one who loves" (s. 336, 1 – PL 38, 1472)

Psalm 34: 2-4
I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be always in my mouth.

My soul will glory in the LORD;

let the poor hear and be glad.

Magnify the LORD with me;

and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 104: 33-34
I will sing to the LORD all my life;

I will sing praise to my God while I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him;

I will rejoice in the LORD.

Lord, let me be the dove hiding in the cleft of the rock. Let me sing the beauty of Your Name. 

The Call - George Herbert (1593 - 1633)

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
Such a Life, as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a feast:
Such a Feast, as mends in length:
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move:
Such a Love, as none can part:
Such a Heart, as joyes in love. 

_______________
Really enjoying teaching the Children's Schola new works with lyrics firmly rooted in our Catholic tradition. This one makes me so happy. I get to speak about poetry and imagery and faith. This will be our Advent stretch piece.