The Raven's Cry

Where were you when the dawn was laid
And the stars in chorus burst and prayed?
Who marked out the earth with measured thread and wrapped the seas in a twilight bed?
Who sent the thunder to ride the rain and carved the path for the desert flame?
Who fathers frost on the window pane or teaches the eagle how
To reign
Have you held the silos filled with snow or watched the hail where
The storm clouds go?
Did you call the
Pleiades by name or loosen
Orion's frozen chain?
Can you lift your
Voice to split the skies and bid
The arrows of lightning fly?
Do you send
The wild colts to the sand or cradle the lion with your hand
He speaks in fire and mountain smoke
And whisper whirlwind breaking oak.
His voice surrounds what none could tame
A thousand stars sing out his name
Have you known the vaults of heaven
Where he keeps the storm and sun?
Have
You drawn the line of oceans
Held the dust, or taught it run
Every beast and vulture obeys him.
Every dawn bends to his will.
He alone is arrayed in thunder and his answer
Speaks, "Be still
Who gives the raven its cry at
Night or sends the trail for the mountain sprite?
Who carves the ice on spine and shapes the stars on the serpent's line
Have you set the wisdom in the mind or traced the path that the clouds unwind?
Did you weigh the winds
Upon the scale or sketch the falcon's
Midair sail?
He laughs at pride and lays
It low, yet feeds the stags
And singing
Where no man goes.
He walks in flame
Yet holds the lamb.
The breath of all is
In his hand
Have you known
The vaults of heaven where he keeps the storm and sun?
Have you drawn the line
Of oceans, held the dust, or taught it
To run?
Every beast and vulture obeys
Him, every dawn bends to his will.
He
Alone is robe and thunder, and his
Answer speaks, and music] "Be still
He cups the moon in silent
Hands, commands the tide, sustains the land.
He does not answer pride
With pride, but calls the humbled one inside
Have you known the vaults of heaven
Where he keeps the storm and sun?
Have
You named the stars in course, set the course for even one?
Every breath
Belongs to
Yahweh, every silence
Holds his will.
He alone commands the thunder, and the earth must then be still
And singing be