Ode to Those Prophets of Old (by Carl Koch )

O voices woven through the winds of time,
you who rose like dawn over humankind’s dim valleys
O keepers of the flame unquenched, the single fire
burning in the many lamps of faith!

You spoke of mercy when the world was stone,
of justice carved from heaven’s word;
you led the lost through wilderness and war,
not to conquest, but to covenant
not to thrones, but to the quiet peace of prayer.

Abraham, father of nations, builder of altars in the dust,
your trembling faith still echoes in our blood.
Moses, shepherd of laws and lightning,
your staff split seas and opened hearts alike.
Jesus, bearer of the breath of love,
you turned the wound into a window for grace.
Muhammad, seal of the circle, voice of the mercy,
you taught that the many names of God are one.

O prophets of the single flame,
your echoes cross the sands of creed and name.
We are your heirs, wanderers, doubters, dreamers still,
drinking from the same unseen spring.

And when we speak of God,
it is your dust that moves upon our tongues,
your light that threads our prayers,
your courage that forgives the world its fear.

Blessed be the line of light unbroken
the promise, the call, the song of One.