Ash Wednesday part 6

[Bora137]

Hope everyone is ok. Posting this up because it mentions the time between dying and birth 🙂. Shine on

ALTHOUGH I do not hope to turn again
Although I do not hope
Although I do not hope to turn

Wavering between the profit and the loss
In this brief transit where the dreams cross
The dreamcrossed twilight between birth and dying
(Bless me father) though I do not wish to wish these things
From the wide window towards the granite shore
The white sails still fly seaward, seaward flying
Unbroken wings

And the lost heart stiffens and rejoices
In the lost lilac and the lost sea voices
And the weak spirit quickens to rebel
For the bent golden-rod and the lost sea smell
Quickens to recover
The cry of quail and the whirling plover
And the blind eye creates
The empty forms between the ivory gates
And smell renews the salt savour of the sandy earth This is the time of tension between dying and birth The place of solitude where three dreams cross Between blue rocks But when the voices shaken from the yew-tree drift away Let the other yew be shaken and reply.

Blessed sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated

And let my cry come unto Thee.

[Deb]

I'm still amongst the living. I've been completely derailed for several months by a life altering cross country move. But while I have rare time to post, I do read. Things should be settling down for me soon. I know I've said that before. 

Where did this come from? It's oddly beautiful and reminiscent of the Lord's Prayer with which I was raised. I think I need to read and reread it a few times, there's a lot of feeling and meaning packed into, and between, the words.

[Bora137]

Good to hear from you Deb, glad the end and return of routine is in sight.

It T S Eliot Ash Wednesday. I love this bit


From the wide window towards the granite shore
The white sails still fly seaward, seaward flying
Unbroken wings

[Deb]

Ah, TS Eliot.

I think the only thing I appreciated of his in high school was Jabberwocky. I thought it was brilliant. But then I got an A+ for a poem I did on why I hated poetry, lol.

Saw Cats in Denver decades ago and actually fell asleep, the only time I've done that in a public arena. Ever.

The Ash Wednesday piece was beautiful. Thank you for sharing that.

[Bora137]

Haha well I tend to read poetry before bed and yes it often has the same effect on me 🙂