Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Christian : Catholic

20th Century

US
(North America)

Thomas Merton

Timeline (1915 - 1968)

Poems by Thomas Merton
Books - Links

Thomas Merton, Thomas Merton poetry, Christian, Christian poetry, Catholic poetry, poetry, poetry

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Thomas Merton is a Catholic monk and mystic who, perhaps more than anyone else in the 20th century, is associated with opening up a dialog between the spiritual traditions of East and West. He himself studied many Eastern spiritual practices deeply, particularly Zen Buddhist meditation and philosophy.

He is best known today for his essays on the spiritual life, especially his first book, The Seven Storey Mountain, but he was also a gifted poet. Many of his later poems reflect his own mystical awakening.

Poems by Thomas Merton

	A Messenger from the Horizon
	A Practical Program for Monks
	A Psalm
	Aubade -- The City
	Follow my ways and I will lead you
	Night-Flowering Cactus
	O Sweet Irrational Worship
	Song for Nobody
	Stranger
	The Fall
	The Sowing of Meanings
	When in the soul of the serene disciple
	In Silence

Recommended Books

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

Related Links:

	The Thomas Merton Center and International Thomas Merton Society� http://www.merton.org/ Chronology of Merton's life, several good photos, lots of links.
	The Abbey of Gethsemani http://www.monks.org/ The website of the Trappist monastery that Merton belonged to with its history and info on its monastic life. Includes a brief section on Merton.
	The Merton Institute for Contemplative Living http://www.mertoninstitute.org/ Biographical sketch of Merton, list of all his books, weekly reflection, Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred. A site worth exploring.
	Thomas Merton Monk and Poet http://edge.net/~dphillip/Merton.html A devotional site with something of a hodgepodge organization, but a lot of good material, photos and links.

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!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Thomas Merton

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World