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sarah's avatar

Thomas Merton - Stranger

When no one listens

To the quiet trees

When no one notices

The sun in the pool.

Where no one feels

The first drop of rain

Or sees the last star

Or hails the first morning

Of a giant world

Where peace begins

And rages end:

One bird sits still

Watching the work of God:

One turning leaf,

Two falling blossoms,

Ten circles upon the pond.

One cloud upon the hillside,

Two shadows in the valley

And the light strikes home.

Now dawn commands the capture

Of the tallest fortune,

The surrender

Of no less marvelous prize!

Closer and clearer

Than any wordy master,

Thou inward Stranger

Whom I have never seen,

Deeper and cleaner

Than the clamorous ocean,

Seize up my silence

Hold me in Thy Hand!

Now act is waste

And suffering undone

Laws become prodigals

Limits are torn down

For envy has no property

And passion is none.

Look, the vast Light stands still

Our cleanest Light is One!

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Suzi Blalock's avatar

This came to mind - "Show me a day when the world wasn't new." Sister Barbara Hance

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sarah's avatar

I love that.

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Chris Bodor's avatar

When I read this poem this morning, I can’t help but think that it serves as an applicable application to the upcoming political climate. Politics does not know the sunrise. Political parties do not know six am.

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Lily Prigioniero's avatar

Whew.. a bit of human beauty amongst the overall pessimistic beat poets that prevail as poetic outlaws. Thanks for this.❤️

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The Feral Goat's avatar

This poem today... Literally the topic of a group meeting later and I shared it. Thank you.

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Lisa B. Martin    zihuawriter's avatar

A blessed and poignant message, and so true. I know that feeling...beauty, peace, eternal connection. I find it again and again, in daily moments, and in Zihuatanejo, Mexico...25 years and counting! I look forward to offering Fearless writing and restorative retreats there this winter....ahhhhhhh. So very needed. Time out is indeed time in.

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Patris's avatar

Breathing better with this reminder.

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Michelle Lindblom's avatar

I could not agree with you more. There are many wonderful and peaceful places to just be. These are the places that can and will save us from all the noise of society. Thank you for the reminder. Michelle

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appleton king's avatar

when i saw the picture i actually turned around to see if there was a spy cam in forest! lol... because thats where i wake up just not with the palmettos what a beautifully parsed description of sacred and places which can exist in so many forms.....

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Deborah Brasket's avatar

Yes, that "unbroken stillness" out there by the water, resonates with that unbroken stillness within which is the sacred space we carry with us wherever we go once we recognize its existence.

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drewzmuze's avatar

🙏🏽✨️

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Эдуард's avatar

Священное пространство и священное время...

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Dian Parker's avatar

Ahhhhh……Beautiful.

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Suzi Blalock's avatar

Thank you. I needed that reminder.

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