But the silence in the mind
R. S. Thomas (1913 - 2000)
But the silence in the mindis when we live best, within
listening distance of the silence
we call God. This is the deep
calling to deep of the psalm-
writer, the bottomless ocean.
We launch the armada of
our thoughts on, never arriving.
It is a presence, then,
whose margins are our margins;
that calls us out over our
own fathoms. What to do
but draw a little nearer to
such ubiquity by remaining still?
-- For Lovers of God Everywhere: Poems of the Christian Mystics, Roger Housden
Ach sa chiúnas sin san aigne
is fearr i bhfad sinn, i bhfoisceacht
go mbeannaí Dia dhuit den chiúnas sin
ar a dtugaimid Dia. Is é seo an duibheagán
ag glaoch ar an duibheagán mar do chan Dáiví,
an t-aigéan gan ghrinneall ar a seoltar
loingeas ár gcuid smaointe, gan dul i dtír.
Is láithreacht é mar sin
arb iad a chuid imeall ár n-imill féin;
a ghlaonn amach orainn os cionn
ár bhfeánna. Cad atá le déanamh
ach druidim níos cóngaraí
don uileláithreacht sin trí bheith ciúin
Bit the quate i the mynd
Bit the quate i the mynd's
whan we live it oor brawest, wi'in
hearkenin distance o the quate
we cry The Almichtie. this's the deepths
cryin tae the deepths o the saum-screeder,
the boddomless tide.
We lench the armada o oor thochts on,
nivver tae win at.
It's a presence, then,
whaes mairgins'r oor mairgins;
thit crys us oot ower wir
ain deepths. Whit tae dae
bit coorie narrer tae sic meesterie
bi bidein quate.