Sunday, May 11, 2014

Contemplative Poetry Series - John O'Donohue

For the Senses

May the touch of your skin
Register the beauty
Of the otherness
That surrounds you.
May your listening be attuned
To the deeper silence
Where sound is honed
To bring distance home.
May the fragrance
                          Of a breathing meadow
                              Refresh your heart
                           And remind you you are...
                                                                                  
    ...a child of the earth.
                     
                        And when you partake
                            Of food and drink,
                        May your taste quicken
                       To the gift and sweetness
                        That flows from the earth.
                            May your inner eye
                        See through the surfaces
                      And glean the real presence
                     Of everything that meets you.
                           May your soul beautify
                          The desire of your eyes
                          That you might glimpse
                            The infinity that hides
                              In the simple sights
                                That seem worn
                              To your usual eyes.




 This poem is from John O'Donohue's book of blessings,
 To Bless the Space Between Us.
The photographs here were made, in 2009, in John's beloved landscape, the Burren, where I am at this very moment.  I thought this was a perfect tribute to the man and the place.  I want to embrace his way of regarding the world on this trip...to be sure to use all my senses to unfold the mystery of the place.  I hope to have some "On location..." images in a day or two so, stay tuned!

1 comment:

kimmanleyort said...

If you get a chance, go to a little sandwich and soup place on the coastal road about a mile south of Fanore. The lady there has great stories of John.