The Four Winds in Cuatro Vientos – A Haiku Cluster
After experiencing storm Eunice today in England, I happened upon a poem I wrote about another storm I lived through, over a decade ago, in Spain. Interestingly the place happened to be called “Four Winds” in Spanish!
But by far the more powerful force was not the extraordinary wind and rain, but the beautiful and transforming power of something more remarkable – the silent prayer of 2 million people kneeling in adoration in the middle of a storm.
Wild winds awaken What duty and chaos dulled in the concrete world. 2 million kneel To touch the softening earth as heaven descends. This greater silence Opens the heart of worship and our souls revive. around us the storm dies as our peace is quickened and the Spirit rests. What is our bard work for? Waking the spirit Watering the thirsty ground Reviving the soul Drenching the hard earth Softening the soil with storm till the Spirit leaps. Write and reveal The ground of your own being And you touch the Lord.
Wild winds awaken
What duty and chaos dulled
in the concrete world.
2 million kneel
To touch the softening earth
as heaven descends.
This greater silence
Opens the heart of worship
and our souls revive.
around us the storm
dies as our peace is quickened
and the Spirit rests.
What is our bard work for?
Waking the spirit
Watering the thirsty ground
Reviving the soul
Drenching the hard earth
Softening the soil with storm
till the Spirit leaps.
Write and reveal
The ground of your own being
And you touch the Lord.
This cluster of haikus was written 3 days after attending the great vigil of silent prayer with Pope Benedict XVI and two million others all kneeling on the bare earth.
Sarah de Nordwall August 2011
Haikus as verses?
That was genius!
Write and reveal the ground of your own being – that's just what it is!
Beautiful imagery Sarah! I couldn't help but think of this verse for those living the creative life – writing and revealing from that wind of inspiration: "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
Yes! and Thank you! I thought I'd invented Haiku clusters but then I hear that it's a thing!! But as far as revealing the ground of your own being goes.. it is a beautiful and mysterious process isn't it? Connected to the powers of the soul. We disclose our own personal logos.
Oh thankyou Jackie. Yes. There's such a wonderful wildness about the Spirit revealed in that quotation..a life of freedom indeed – and ever surprising!