liturgy and sirens

we sing ancient chants
kyrie eleison, sanctus, alleluia
sometimes strong
others, off key just a little bit

heaven's hosts' unending hymns
temporarily outsung by sirens
whose wails push through broken windows
drowning out gloria in excelsis

but they're not so considerate
as to intrude only on the singing -
proclamation and prayer must pause ...
only momentarily, though

+ + +

to be insulated from the real-world sounds
would be to emphasize isolation
while the world breaking into our prayer
reminds us that G-d breaks into the world

so we stop, though only for a moment
maybe we even pray for those who pass by
before we continue the ancient liturgy
kyrie, christe, kyrie eleison. amen.