Fat Tuesday Prayer

Ancient Brightness,
 still shining like morning
 on drifts of whitest snow,
 be light and joy in us.
 Stir our inner child
 to fling aside all weariness,
 to dance and laugh,
 to taste sweet wonder,
 to make our day a carnival
 of gratitude and grace.
 Tomorrow the lean days will come,
 and we will listen for a word
 in the empty places
 of the heart.
 But on this fat and bountiful day
 let us feast on
 your ancient brightness,
 still new, shining, good.
 And be glad.

Amen