poem about waiting- poetry analysis

Kneeling

BY R. S. THOMAS

Moments of great calm,

Kneeling before an altar

Of wood in a stone church

In summer, waiting for the God   

To speak; the air a staircase   

For silence; the sun’s light   

Ringing me, as though I acted   

A great rôle. And the audiences   

Still; all that close throng

Of spirits waiting, as I,

For the message.

                         Prompt me, God;

But not yet. When I speak,   

Though it be you who speak   

Through me, something is lost.   

The meaning is in the waiting.

the mood of the poem is reverent. influenced by the imagery and metaphor. you can really imagine a man looking up to the heavens, as if god himself is about to walk down a staircase made of air and reveal the answer to his prayer or guide him in some way. It shows how you can learn more about what god is trying to say by not saying it, then by actually saying it. He wants to understand by himself. his faith and beliefs may lead him to a realization without god's direct help.

show how he is in the moment and completely concentrated.

the tone is thoughtful. it is influenced by the rhythm of the poem, the rhythm incorporates a lot of pauses and stops, to show how deeply and intensely the speaker is thinking about this.
it is interesting how he refers to god as "the God" i  think he does this to show how god is the most important person in his life. the one and only.