Tuesday, September 26, 2017

When in the soul of the serene disciple

Photo by Thomas Merton

When in the soul of the serene disciple
With no more Fathers to imitate
Poverty is a success,
It is a small thing to say the roof is gone:
He has not even a house.

Stars, as well as friends,
Are angry with the noble ruin.
Saints depart in several directions.

Be still:
There is no longer any need of comment.
It was a lucky wind
That blew away his halo with his cares,
A lucky sea that drowned his reputation.

Here you will find
Neither a proverb nor a memorandum.
There are no ways,
No methods to admire
Where poverty is no achievement.
His God lives in his emptiness like an affliction.

What choice remains?
Well, to be ordinary is not a choice:
It is the usual freedom
Of men without visions.

~ Thomas Merton

9 comments:

  1. 2Cents !!!
    perhaps the word God is only
    a place marker for Mystery that is
    without name and form and the going out
    of God,God takes the Devel with him perhaps!!!

    happy blessings -----------------------------------boK



    2Cents !!!
    perhaps the word God is only
    a place marker for Mystery that is
    without name and form and the going out
    of God,God takes the Devil with him perhaps!!!

    Happyblessings ___________boK

    ReplyDelete
  2. yapper yapper!!!
    i messed it up mea culpa -
    A-men o,my !!!!
    blessings _____________boK

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is tangential; Morgan Atkinson is doing a film on libraries (he completed one about Fr Louie a couple of years ago)and cites Merton's words about them. Mr Atkinson is looking for support. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/793255080/free-for-all-time-in-the-library

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got notice of that too, James. I hope it goes well!

      Delete
  4. My all-time favorite Merton poem. Even soul-crushing failure can be an opening to a life beyond the self-centered view. A lucky day!

    ReplyDelete

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