Holy Ground

by Ivan M. Granger


Original Language English

Let the vision
of the vastness
you are
leave you
in glorious
ruins.

Pilgrims will come
to imagine
the grand temple
that once stood,
not realizing

          the wreck
          made this empty plain
          holy ground.

-- from Real Thirst: Poetry of the Spiritual Journey, by Ivan M. Granger

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/ Photo by Mendhak /


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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

Rather that bury this brief poem with lots of commentary, I thought I'd plant a few questions instead:

- Who or what is really left in ruins?

- Why are those ruins "glorious"?

- Why an "empty plain"? What is it that is empty?

- Most importantly, why is it that the ruins, the "wreck," make this holy ground, rather than some "grand temple"?

I wouldn't spend much time trying to answer these questions intellectually. Just let the questions simmer, and see what sort of answers naturally bubble up to the surface.








Holy Ground