Dazzled by gold ornaments
by trees swathed in white lights
and the winter sun piercing
stained glass
with its ice-pure rays

Body and soul vibrating
to the organ’s swell
I sang with the choir and congregation

Superlatives and absolutes
flowed from the liturgy
like wine
from a celestial cask

Gloria to God in the highest

Deum de Deo
Lumen de lumine
Deum verum de Deo vero

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

The Son
the radiance of God's glory
sustaining all things by his powerful word
superior to the angels

Oh come let us adore him

And I thought I saw the barefoot Rabbi
who had nowhere to lay his head
Drunk with the carols and praise
he began to dance in rapture

Whirling barefoot in a Hasidic dance
hands raised
blessing the Father
and giving thanks for this day

In the voice of the Prophet Isaiah he intoned
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea

Then suddenly still
he looked at his followers and said

In memory of me
go and do likewise