In memory of Ghanaian poet Kofi Awoonor,
among those killed at the Nairobi mall.
Coming
out of the first evening of a weekend poetry course featuring Mary Oliver and
Thomas Merton last Thursday, heading toward my car, I heard a loud rustling and
looked to see a huge owl half-leaping, half-flying from the pavement to the top
of a chain link fence that bordered the parking lot and a small wild area
beyond. I could see its eyes, but they were not fixed on me, so I turned to the
opposite horizon to see what it was staring at and saw a huge full moon rising,
whose light shortly silhouetted a slowly ascending jet.
For
those familiar with Mary Oliver’s poetry, attending to the owl and the moon
could be considered a “Mary Oliver moment.” Her poetry contains a vast zoo of
critters and a lifetime subscription to National Geographic images. But the
ascending jet made me think of Merton’s poetic concerns about encroaching
“civilization” as well as human vulnerability and glory.
The
basic message of the course was that poets remind us to look and to listen. Why
do we have to be reminded to look? Well, to see, of course! Why do we have to
be reminded to listen? Well, to hear, of course! Or savor or smell or feel! Jesus reminded his students
to watch and listen, and the Psalmist reminded worshipers to taste and smell and touch.
Poets
and preachers, contemplatives and prophets, mystics and artists and scientists—all urge us:
Look! Listen! Pay attention! Be mindful! Be aware—be VERY aware!
One
might think that with all the communication devices we have that seeing and
hearing would be our least unused senses, but in truth we are flooded with
images and sounds, overwhelming the mere sprinkling needed to ensure a harvest
in reflection. Thus focus is the key, and a few carefully chosen and crafted
words, whether of poetry or scripture or (might I daresay) blog, can prove
helpful.
A
great example of focus can be found along Atlanta’s BeltLine, which exhibits
many temporary outdoor works by artists. Look at the photo at the top of this
post. What do you see? Metal and glass debris strewn over more than twenty
feet? (That’s our dog Hobbes in the foreground for perspective.)
Yet
if you walk up to it and look through the empty frame provided, as below, you
will see a face, a portrait of local glass artist Matt Janke. A sign beside the
frame explains, “Object of Ma(tt)n challenges
the notion that materials, ideas, places and people within Life are
disconnected. After gathering together discarded items from all areas of
Atlanta, artist William Massey shows that our perspective is our
portrait—separate or together, clutter or culture, divided or One.”
That’s
pretty much the gist of what the spiritual formation poetry class reminded me this
past weekend, from the poetry and professor as well as from fellow participants
and our morning and evening prayers.
Related
Posts:
Related
upcoming morning retreat in Dallas, TX, Nov. 9:
Progressive
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Do you have any recommendations on doing a spiritual formation through poetry class in a church setting?
ReplyDeleteOh, I'd probably have many recommendations! I wouldn't know where to begin in this short space. I'd love to lead one if a congregation wanted. Poetry can read like scripture, and elevate the spirit. Let's talk through e-mail. Thanks for asking!
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