Psalm at Sea

A Bit of Hebrew Poetry

Dmitry Oleyn — “Sunny Sea” (oil on canvas, 2024), used with permission.

Here is a short poem-prayer in the style of the Hebrew poetry found in the Psalms and biblical prophets. In Hebrew poetry, lines come in pairs (or triplets), with the second line expanding upon the the first in various ways. For example, the second line might intensify the first line’s emotion, focus its thought, or draw out a contrast. (See Robert Alter’s The Art of Biblical Poetry if you ever want the deep dive.)

This poem of very few words has felt just right for me in a season where I feel a bit speechless about the state of our world (maybe you do too?). May this poem remind us all of what God calls us to in every season: trust and faithfulness.

Thanks to Commonweal Magazine for publishing this poem in their October 2024 issue, and to Ukranian painter Dmitry Oleyn for letting me include his beautiful painting above.

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Psalm at Sea

I am still rowing
  when you would have me sail—
attentive to the wind,
  at rest in its sabbaths,
sent forth by your Spirit
  and stilled.

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