Читать книгу Thomas Merton's Poetics of Self-Dissolution онлайн
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MACARIUS THE YOUNGER
I
The place in which he lived
Is called Scete.
In wide open desert
A day and night’s journey
From the monasteries at Nitria.
No road, no path,
No land marks
Show the way there.
You must go by the stars.
Scarce is the water:
Where found at all
It smells poisonous as tar
But is safe to drink.
Few live there
Far apart
Out of one another’s sight
True men of God:
Such a place
Suffers only those
Who have made up their minds.
There is great love among them
And love for any other
Who can get that far.
If any traveller
Should reach that place
He receives much care:
One who crosses such wastes
Has needs.
II
Now one day someone brought a bunch of grapes to Macarius at Scete.
He, forgetful of his own thirst, took the grapes to another
Who was unwell.
He in turn, happy and thanking God for so much love
Took the grapes to yet another.
So the grapes went from cell to cell, all around the desert
No one knowing where they first started.
Until at length one came to Macarius, saying: “Here, Father, are good