Enfleshing

Knit in inner darkness, hidden in the womb,
heaven in your body 'til it lay entombed.
Flame within the ashes, spirit in the dust,
sunlight bound in grasses, iron sheathed in rust.

Christ, you came enfleshing words no ear had heard,
heav'n and earth enmeshing in your body, Lord.
Naked at your coming under shining stars,
naked at your going, man of love and sorrows.

All you had was Eden: fingerprints in earth
wound about with linen at your bloody birth.
All you had was only flesh from start to grave,
yet for our belonging, all you had you gave.

Ash aflame and rising, dust by spirit moved:
Death itself surprising, life again you proved.
Breathe into our bodies; raise them to your height;
knit like you in darkness, fill them with your light.

If you fudge the third line of each verse, you can sing this to NOEL NOUVELET.