Mandatum novum do vobis
said the Lord, the Romans say

And Empire got so cosy as to make vernacular
shorthand, Maundy, a nickname for the sacramental
solemnity before the Sacrifice, the heart of its religion.

What might the Mandatum Novum be today?

Love one another still stands
a statute all-healing when wielded
but let us expand the net, exchange humanity
for the web of all relations 

And maundy, maundy, maundy, love the whole wild world

Every gibbon, every frog, 
every seaslug, every dog
every kestrel, every hog
every lion, every mog

Every moment seed to log
In every forest, grove and bog
every land the compass round
every singer, every sound

Oh maundy, maundy, maundy, love the whole damn world

All the killers, all the cruel
all the cowards, all the fools
the followers of fashion
and the addicts to their passion

All the enemies, all the friends
water, on whom life depends
the mother ocean, father winds
the spark from whom all fire begins

Oh Maundy maundy maundy, love the whole world whole
Maundy maundy maundy, love the whole world whole
Maundy maundy maundy, love the whole world whole.

Image courtesy e2grafikwerkstatt on pixabay.com