Thomas Merton's Gethsemani...

   I bought a wonderful book at the abbey bookstore, well, actually six books but I want to talk about one in particular.  It is a book of stunning black and white images by Harry Hinkle and some of Merton's own images as well.  It is combined with excerpts of his writing and a thoughtful text by Merton scholar Monica Weis.   What struck me profoundly is that much of his writing on nature reminded me of Thoreau.  Both retreated to live the life of a forest hermit and both found their personal self-culture in the natural world.  It is one of those rare photography books that is an inspiration in both words and images.

  

A Solitary Sycamore - Gethsemani Abbey

   This is a view of part of the abbey grounds enclosed by the cloister wall.  The stunning tree which is the focal point is, I believe, a "whitewashed sycamore" that kind Merton refers to in the book.  I thought it a particularly effective subject for a black and white photograph although I have a color version of this as well.  (I plan a folio...a "Good Crop" from Gethsemani shortly!)  The small mountain in the background is one of the "Knobs" Merton loved to hike.  Thoreau would approve of the abbey's trails and wilderness areas I'm sure.  This final quote by Merton would have also earned an approval from dear Henry...

"No writing on the solitary, meditative dimensions of life can say anything that has not already been said better by the wind in the pine trees."

                                                               — Thomas Merton from "Honorable Reader"