Against the bluster from the sanctuary upstairs of an elder's mellifluous praise to an omniscient God, downstairs, they sat, twelve babes of sense and soundness, quietly eyeing me with awe and pity. Wee human knights of the great table, they listened deeply with rue to the frail, but stately announcer who recited my suffering.

"Everyone, please listen. "Not a soul tinkered or toiled to draw attention to itself. "The reason why Miss Emily was not here last Saturday was because of her grandmother..." A weighty stillness settled onto the mighty table of ethereal souls.With solemn eyes in one accord, they motioned to her to continue with my tale.

"Her grandmother's liver was not well, and she was in the hospital..."The dire word, conjuring thoughts of needles and sickness and foreign smells, brought forth hushed eyes and widened gasps and crinkled brows. With dread, they listened to her final sentence: "But the doctors could not make her all well...

and she died."How terrible her words were to these novices who only felt life.One sojourner of blond locks to my right, a mere six springs, with magnanimous grace, gently placed her sausage fingers and palm on my sloped shoulder, a gesture of noble humility. Another placed my sorrow on his soul, bowed in grief with bitter moans.

Then one, with authority, poise and vision, boldly confronted her peers, "Maybe, we can do something for Miss Emily now. "The council of supple hearts and soft lips, eager to bless, eager to honor, looked to this seer for guidance and relief."Let's pray for her." With pure faith, they concurred and with tongues divine, donned heaven's raiment.

They prayed aloud, with heads bowed in respect; I watched in sacred bliss with my heart afloat. My sadness leaked out of my tears as I sat ministered by angels garbed as children. Though faint, I could hear the sermon upstairs, but the message of the words was at handin the glow of their simple words and whispers, on the countenances of these wee ones.

From the lips of infants and children, You ordained strength because of your enemies, to silence the foe and still the avenger 1 The refuge of the weak, You will destroy the shroud that enfolds all people, the sheet that covers all nations; You will swallow up death forever. 2 Whence comes the divine? What is man that you are mindful of him? 3

-Tsai

1 Psalm 8, verse 2
2 Isaiah, chapter 25, verse 7
3 Psalm 8, verse 4a