“… Now dawn commands the capture of the tallest fortune …” ~ Thomas Merton

matterhorn dawn merton

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.

turning leaf merton

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!

ocean sunrise merton

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!

~ Thomas Merton

 

And here are all the posts/poems on/by Thomas Merton – enjoy!

Stillness Speaks Teacher page for Thomas Merton will be coming soon. Meantime, below is a brief BIO excerpted from The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University:

“Thomas Merton (1915-1968) is arguably the most influential American Catholic author of the twentieth century. His autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, has sold over one million copies and has been translated into over fifteen languages. He wrote over sixty other books and hundreds of poems and articles on topics ranging from monastic spirituality to civil rights, nonviolence, and the nuclear arms race …

… according to Daniel Berrigan, {Merton became} the conscience of the peace movement of the 1960’s. Referring to race and peace as the two most urgent issues of our time, Merton was a strong supporter of the nonviolent civil rights movement, which he called “certainly the greatest example of Christian faith in action in the social history of the United States.” For his social activism Merton endured severe criticism, from Catholics and non-Catholics alike, who assailed his political writings as unbecoming of a monk …

… During his last years, he became deeply interested in Asian religions, particularly Zen Buddhism, and in promoting East-West dialogue. After several meetings with Merton during the American monk’s trip to the Far East in 1968, the Dalai Lama praised him as having a more profound understanding of Buddhism than any other Christian he had known …”


Poem from Collected Poems of Thomas Merton, by Thomas Merton, found via Poetry Chaikhana.
Images (edited and logos added): Featured and 1) Swiss Alps with Stellisee and Matterhorn in the background during sunrise, by rudi1976, 2) Leaf fallen from a tree in the water, by cla1978, 3) Sunset on sandy beach, by surangastock. All purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (these images are not permitted to be shared separate from this post).
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