Some thoughts on Silence and Solitude

“Silence is God’s first language.”
- St John of the Cross, 16th century.


Introduction, by Franz Wright (2nd half):

I am here to learn
to bear
the beams of love,
what else

Bells
through the leaves, I am here to endure the
bells tolling
underground

Like you a guest, a ghost

Everything will be forgotten

And either I am too alone
or I am not
alone enough
to make each moment
holy

(No one bats 1.000, friend
no one
bats .500)

And I have heard God's silence like the sun
and sought to change

Now
I'm just going to listen to the silence

till the Silence



“Love your solitude… it will be your home and haven even in the midst of very strange conditions, and from there you will discover all your paths.”
--Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet



“…take time away from busy-ness, time to be. I’ve long since stopped feeling guilty about taking being time; it’s something we all need for our spiritual health.
…listen to the silence, stay open to the voice of the Spirit. …slow me down Lord.”
-Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water