ash wednesday

where shall the word be found, where will the word
resound? not here, there is not enough silence
not on the sea or on the islands, not
on the mainland, in the desert or the rain land,
for those who walk in darkness
both in the day time and in the night time
the right time and the right place are not here
no place of grace for those who avoid the face
no time to rejoice for those who walk among noise and deny the voice.

(from "ash wednesday," by t. s. eliot)