The breath of God is on the waters (Malcolm Guite)

Love’s hidden thread has drawn us to the font,
A wide womb floating on the breath of God,
Feathered with seraph wings, lit with the swift
Lightening of praise, with thunder over-spread,
And under-girded with an unheard song,
Calling through water, fire, darkness, pain,
Calling us to the life for which we long,
Yearning to bring us to our birth again.
Again, the breath of God is on the waters
In whose reflecting face our candles shine,
Again, he draws from death the sons and daughters
For whom he bids the elements combine.
As living stones around a font today,
Rejoice with those who roll the stone away.

 --Malcolm Guite, St. John the Baptist: 2, Baptism   

Image source: Perugino, Baptism of Christ, https://www.tripimprover.com/blog/baptism-of-christ-by-perugino (This site includes extensive commentary on the painting.)

Poem source: https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/tag/john-the-baptist/