Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Search the Poetry Chaikhana site:


Poetry Chaikhana Home
New | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact
Poets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | Commentary
Blog | Forum | Video Channel
www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com

<<Previous Poem | View All Poems by Thomas Merton | Next Poem >>

O Sweet Irrational Worship

Thomas Merton, Thomas Merton poetry, Christian, Christian poetry, Catholic poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry,  poetry by Thomas Merton
(1915 - 1968) Timeline

Original Language
English

Christian : Catholic
20th Century

Wind and a bobwhite
And the afternoon sun.

By ceasing to question the sun
I have become light,

Bird and wind.

My leaves sing.

I am earth, earth

All these lighted things
Grow from my heart.

A tall, spare pine
Stands like the initial of my first
Name when I had one.

When I had a spirit,
When I was on fire
When this valley was
Made out of fresh air
You spoke my name
In naming Your silence:
O sweet, irrational worship!

I am earth, earth

My heart's love
Bursts with hay and flowers.
I am a lake of blue air
In which my own appointed place
Field and valley
Stand reflected.

I am earth, earth

Out of my grass heart
Rises the bobwhite.

Out of my nameless weeds
His foolish worship.

 

 

-- from Selected Poems of Thomas Merton, by Thomas Merton

Amazon.com

 


/ Photo by Begbie Images /

Themes

  Birds
  Fire
  Garden
  Heart
  Honey


Recommended Books


The Collected Poems of Thomas Merton, by Thomas Merton
Selected Poems of Thomas Merton, by Thomas Merton
The Strange Islands: Poems by Thomas Merton, by Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton Monk & Poet: A Critical Study, by George Woodcock
A Thomas Merton Reader, by Thomas Merton / Edited by Thomas P. McDonnell

 

<<Previous Poem | View More Poems by Thomas Merton | Next Poem >>

 

 


Poetry Chaikhana Home
New | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact
Poets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | Commentary
Blog | Forum | Twitter
www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2009 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.