Friday, December 17, 2021

Poetry Friday: Advent, by Thomas Merton



This one is turning into an annual Advent share — 
it's so lovely and I find myself returning to it again and again. 

Advent
by Thomas Merton 

Charm with your stainlessness these winter nights, 
Skies, and be perfect! Fly, vivider in the fiery dark, you quiet meteors, 
And disappear. 
You moon, be slow to go down, 
This is your full!

The four white roads make off in silence 
Towards the four parts of the starry universe. 
Time falls like manna at the corners of the wintry earth. 
We have become more humble than the rocks, 
More wakeful than the patient hills.

(Read the whole poem here.) 

Happy Advent, Happy O Antiphons, Happy almost-Christmas! 

~~~~~

Jone MacCulloch is hosting the Poetry Friday round-up this week. 

5 comments:

Tabatha said...

So lovely! Beautiful read aloud.

Janice Scully said...

This is a lovely poem with interesting line breaks. I love how the poet addresses these heavenly bodies. Thanks for sharing this!

Linda B said...

Oh, that ending! Full moon tomorrow night! Happy Holiday wishes to you & your family, Karen!

jama said...

Beautiful. Had not read that one before. Thanks for sharing!

Buffy Silverman said...

Lovely poem! (We were just out walking after dinner, enjoying the almost-full moon.)