Every time I name people (as with the list of poets the day before yesterday), I always seem to omit very important people. One name that I almost instantly regretted leaving out was e.e. cummings. This essayist, playwright, painter and poet uses simple and straighforward language to shake up my complacency.
i am a little church (far from the frantic
world with its rapture and anguish) at peace with nature
- i do not worry if longer nights grow longest;
i am not sorry when silence becomes singing
winter by spring, i lift my diminutive spire to
merciful Him Whose only now is forever:
standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence
(welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)
You can read the entire poem here.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Maura 10.15.09 at 5:49 am
I love the paschal mystery espressed in the lines before those you quoted…
my life is the life of the reaper and the sower;
my prayers are prayers of earth’s own clumsily striving
(finding and losing and laughing and crying)children
whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness
around me surges a miracle of unceasing
birth and glory and death and resurrection:
over my sleeping self float flaming symbols
of hope,and i wake to a perfect patience of mountains
Eric 10.15.09 at 11:54 am
I have been praying daily for a greater, more frequent recognition of God’s presence. This poem is so full of images that focus our attention on always present things through which God cries out to us, “I am here!” Thank you, Paul. This poem reaches deep into my heart and soul.
I read something was about awareness of the presence of God. “It is like a fish suddenly seeing and knowing water.” We are literally enveloped in the life-giving love of God. How can I spend so much of each day unaware?
Paul 10.16.09 at 7:09 am
Maura,
Yes, it is a magnificent poem. It’s a pity it isn’t known to more people, isn’t it?
Paul
Paul 10.16.09 at 7:10 am
Eric,
Glad you liked the poem. Permission to steal your lovely image of the fish “suddenly seeing and knowing water”?
Paul
Eric 10.16.09 at 10:25 am
I am afraid I myself took it from an online commentary. I don’t know if it is copyrighted. It such a fabulous image.
Eric 10.18.09 at 10:43 am
It’s not copyrighted.