I'm reading a new to me book on Lent. It is really just a collection of essays from a wide range of authors, but each and every reading is worthy. I usually breeze through collections of essays, each new author's name just a blur on my way to the end. But these make me stop and sit and think and sometimes even cry, Lord have Mercy on me.
In the book there was a small excerpt of an Oscar Wilde poem - I know! Oscar Wilde for Lent! Crazy! But good.
The Ballad of Reading Goal
Oscar Wilde
....And thus we rust Life's iron chain
Degraded and alone:
And some men curse, and some men weep,
And some men make no moan:
But God's eternal Laws are kind
And break the heart of stone.
And every human heart that breaks,
In prison -cell or yard,
Is as that broken box that gave
Its treasure to the Lord,
And filled the unclean leper's house
With the scent of costliest nard.
Ah! happy those whose hearts can break
And peace of pardon win!
How else may man make straight his plan
And cleanse his soul from Sin?
How else but through a broken heart
May Lord Christ enter in?
8 comments:
It's so nice reading little bits of other lives and poems that move them. Once again, reading this poem, I am moved.
Oscar Wilde's children story "The Selfish Giant" has long been one of my favorites, and is in many ways like this poem.
This is a perfect Lenten poem, Kris. It is hard to remember sometimes that my weakness should produce joy - joy because I'm loved so much despite my obvious shortcomings. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Wonderful poem Kris - thanks for sharing!
I too have a Lenten book with Oscar Wilde. A broken heart as the way to let Christ enter in. Thank you. Today I feel a bit frazzled and terribly tired. Glad Christ always accepts me as is.
"Ah! happy those whose hearts can break
And peace of pardon win!"
Wilde is quite a surprising go-to for Lent! This is beautiful, beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.
Amber, I will have to find that story. I do enjoy what little of Wilde I have read.
Beth, I hope your day improved. Mine started out quite poorly, but steadily got better.
Kris -- What a beautiful poem. I love, "But God's eternal Laws are kind And break the heart of stone." Ahhh -- just lovely. Thank you.
I love the idea of poetry Wednesday. Thank you so much, Kris, for inspiring this shared poetry experience. It is helping me to break the ice that has frozen over my poorly-neglected blog.
Post a Comment