This morning brought with it more sad news of yet another earthquake, this time in Turkey. I was deeply saddened by the news. The sight of another village in ruins, more deaths, more grief, more broken bodies and broken lives brought me to tears. My heart aches so deeply for these people and I am very sad today.
I shared with a dear friend of mine in Buffalo, my sadness, and as is his custom - his response was to send me John O'Donohue's Bennacht (Blessing) which can be found in the beginning of his beautiful Anam Cara, A Book of Celtic Wisdom (Harper Perennial: 2004). We both were comforted by this deeply touching poetic spirituality that O'Donohue wrote for his beloved mother, Josie.
So, I share it with the hope it will comfort you, this evening, in case you, also, have heavy hearts over yet another natural disaster that has cost us more lives, too many now gone.
"Bennacht"
by John O'Donohue
On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze behind
the gray window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colors,
indigo, red, green
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight
When the canvas frays
in the curach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.
John O'Donohue, author, poet and priest, (1 January 1956 – 3 January 2008) was from County Clare, Ireland. He is best known for his Celtic Spirituality. He had been a Catholic priest who chose to leave the priesthood, yet continued to live out his passionate love of God in his beautiful books, so rich in Gaelic lyricism.
Very very beautiful. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt is so great to see how John’s work continues to weave “words of love . . . an invisible cloak, to mind your life.” I want to support you in sharing that inspiration and love; and I am also responsible for minding the technicalities connected with the preservation of John’s estate and literary legacy.
ReplyDeleteJohn’s family would be very grateful if you would add to your quote a note that gives the title of the book from which the poem is quoted, as well as the copyright attribution ( © John O’Donohue. All rights reserved). It would also be great if you could provide a link to the web site: www.johnodonohue.com — so that those who want to know more about John can come to us?
warmly and with gratitude,
Lindaa
Linda, thank you for your comment and your own work perpetuating O'Donohue's beautiful writings and Celtic spirituality. I would love to hear more about your work. Thank you for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeletePeace and many blessings,
Victoria