Bicentenary Poems and Prose

Saying Grace: To 'Abdu'l-Baha

Saying Grace:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha

"He is God! How can we render Thee thanks, O Lord? Thy bounties are endless and our gratitude cannot equal them. How can the finite utter praise of the Infinite? Unable are we to voice our thanks for Thy favors and in utter powerlessness we turn wholly to Thy Kingdom beseeching the increase of Thy bestowals and bounties. Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, the Almighty."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá12

When I say grace,
I find my own words inadequate
in expressing my gratitude to the Infinite
for the meal spread before me.

Therefore,
I utter the words
revealed by the Holy Spirit
through the Servant of Baha.

Poet's Note: ▼

This is poem #63 of the 100 I am writing for the Centenary of the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha.

Footnotes
1  Mahmud's Diary, page 327
2  http://www.bahaiprayers.org/grace2.htm