\n<\/strong>In whose dark eye \u00a0\u2014
\n<\/strong>Someone is awake.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
For this last poem of the academic year, I looked back to May of 2015 for a strong poet\u2019s voice. \u00a0I found this short poem written by Thomas Merton. \u00a0 In his later years, Merton\u2019s awareness of the power of mysticism kept on maturing. \u00a0More than many sacred writers, Merton dove deep into the secular west (Paris, London, New York); \u00a0into Eastern Mysticism in creative tension with Western mysticism; \u00a0 into Trappist monastic living (i.e., Gethsemani Abby from his entrance on Dec 10, 1941 until his accidental death the same day and year that theologian Karl Barth died, Dec 10, 1968).<\/p>\n
Mystics respect the poverty of human language. Words are not the author\u2019s property. \u00a0Words are not the reader\u2019s property either. \u00a0A poet\u2019s words invite you to find your self somewhere \u2014 mysterious and alive.<\/p>\n
Best to read the poem out loud, with pauses.<\/p>\n
p.s. June and July can interrupt the regular rhythms of work, surprise us, catch the playful in us more than ordinarily. \u00a0 If a post appears on the list during these next two months, it means someone\u2019s strong words surprised me and made me want to share the surprise.<\/p>\n
Back to a more regular rhythm the first week of August.<\/p>\n
Have a blest summer.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
john sj<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s Post \u2013 A Song to Nobody<\/strong><\/p>\n A yellow flower A golden spirit Let no one touch this gentle sun (No light, no gold, no name, no color \u201cThere is no way of telling strangers they are all walking around shining like the sun.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas Merton Friday, May 31 \u00a0– \u00a0Thomas Merton \u201cLet no one touch this gentle sun \u00a0\u2014 In whose dark eye \u00a0\u2014 Someone is awake.\u201d For this last poem of the academic year, I looked back to May of 2015 for a strong … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/poetry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2019\/06\/Sunflower.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n(Light and spirit)
\nSings by itself
\nFor nobody.<\/p>\n
\n(Light and emptiness)
\nSings without a word
\nBy itself.<\/p>\n
\nIn whose dark eye
\nSomeone is awake.<\/p>\n
\nAnd no thought:
\nO, wide awake!)
\nA golden heaven
\nSings by itself
\nA song to nobody.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thomas_Merton<\/a>
\nJanuary 31, 1915 \u2013 December 10, 1968<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"