Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Tree and Sunset

photograph courtesy of Sonja Bingen

"A tree gives glory to God first of all by being a tree. For in being what God means it to be, it is imitating an idea which is in God and which is not distinct from the essence of God, and therefore a tree imitates God by being a tree."  Thomas Merton

Oh, learn from the trees,
that through cold days' rush
endure, from hope to hope,
and embrace
evening's blush.

See how the faithful jay 
flits from branch to 
barren branch, 
and sings of 
summer's lost day.

For all trees believe 
in summer's heat, 
though icy winds may strip 
their tender leaves.

They know that change 
is always the  same, 
until
some long winter hence
they'll fall, by vicious storm slain,
and grateful life will
quietly end.


Originally published on December 10, 2011

Monday, December 2, 2013

Foggy Road






“...unity in love is one of the most characteristic works of the inner self, so that paradoxically the inner “I” is not only isolated but at the same time united with others on a higher plane, which is in fact the plane of spiritual solitude.”  Thomas Merton, The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation


+


in fog we walk
down the glistening road


our steps ring
like ice shattering


crystal souls, shards
sharp and eager
at last,
to rise.


You look
into my eyes
and see
nothing;


I look
into your eyes
and see
everything,


as together
we walk
down the shimmering
road.