Splintered

You spread the heavens over us,
the earth beneath our feet,
and here between the stars and dust
we shelter in your keep.

Let not the skies above us fail,
their comets fall to earth,
but let the embers purning pale
keep still their distant berth.

Turn back the terrors of the night,
the arrow's flight by day.
Let every missile flaming bright 
turn harmlessly away.

Let every stone we slingshot up
be as the snow that falls
a wonder, not a wounding drop.
Our own destruction halt.

Let earth be as your gentle breast
and heaven as your wings,
that here between them we may rest
on splintered spears and slings.

Bend every bow until it snaps
and weave their strings to warm.
O Father, turn our weapons back
and keep us from all harm!