Master of beauty, craftsman of the snowflake,
inimitable contriver,
endower of Earth so gorgeous & different from the boring Moon,
thank you for such as it is my gift.

I have made up a morning prayer to you
containing with precision everything that most matters.
‘According to Thy will’ the thing begins.
It took me off & on two days. It does not aim at eloquence.

You have come to my rescue again & again
in my impassable, sometimes despairing years.
You have allowed my brilliant friends to destroy themselves
and I am still here, severely damaged, but functioning.

Unknowable, as I am unknown to my guinea pigs:
how can I ‘love’ you?
I only as far as gratitude & awe
confidently & absolutely go.

I have no idea whether we live again.
It doesn’t seem likely
from either the scientific or the philosophical point of view
but certainly all things are possible to you,
and I believe as fixedly in the Resurrection-appearances to Peter and

to Paul

as I believe I sit in this blue chair.
Only that may have been a special case
to establish their initiatory faith.

Whatever your end may be, accept my amazement.
May I stand until death forever at attention
for any your least instruction or enlightenment.
I even feel sure you will assist me again, Master of insight & beauty.

COMMENTS

---

3 responses to “Eleven Addresses to the Lord (1) – John Berryman”

1. David Zahl says:

   06/14/2012 at 9:16 am

   Next to Dickinson’s 816, this might be my favorite poem of all time. Major hat-tip to Brad Davis, who read it at the 2012 Conference.

   Reply
2. MargaretE says:

   06/14/2012 at 7:21 pm

   This is just spectacular.

   Reply
3. James says:

   06/18/2012 at 9:05 pm

   “You have come to my rescue again & again
   in my impassable, sometimes despairing years.
   You have allowed my brilliant friends to destroy themselves
   and I am still here, severely damaged, but functioning.”

   Sad. Hope he had a bit time left in this frame before the end.

   Reply