Grieving in Pentecost

Gather from this world and its infirmities
language that can bear you, and in which
you can bear to speak of God: say that
sight surrenders petty deities of mild
benevolence and cruel inaction who
smile on calamity, giving small
joys for consolation. Still, since
you can neither ease your suffering
nor excise your glory utterly
you are worn down to worship,
praise impiously rather than recant,
and testify in a singular tongue;
your head still cool, untouched by any flame.