i, solitude, am thine own self

Jessina has a Literary Companion To the Lectionary: Readings Throughout the Year, compiled by Mark Pryce, which is an absolute gem of a book. I borrow and snatch it to read bits and pieces of continually, and will purchase one as soon as a copy pops up at Bundles of Books so I can get it with book credit. If not, I shall have to do it the old fashioned way and buy it on Amazon.

Here is one of the poems included (for the first Sunday of Lent, but I like it for today)

If You Seek , by Thomas Merton

If you seek a heavenly light
I, Solitude, am your professor!

I go before you into emptiness,
Raise strange suns for your new mornings,
Opening the windows
of your innermost apartment.

When I, loneliness, give my special signal
Follow my silence, follow where I beckon!
Fear not, little beast, little spirit
(Thou word and animal)
I, Solitude, am angel
And have prayed in your name.

Look at the empty, wealthy night
The pilgrim moon!
I am the appointed hour,
The "now" that cuts
Time like a blade


Follow my ways and I will lead you
To golden-haired suns,
Logos and music, blameless joys,
Innocent of questions
And beyond answers:
For I, Solitude, am thine own self:
I, Nothingness, am thy All.
I, Silence, am thy Amen.

photo courtesy of 29.media.tumblr.com