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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Zen Poem" by Daniel Berrigan is a profound meditation on the nature of power, healing, and the human longing for control over life's hardships. Through a dialogue between a novice seeking supernatural abilities and a wise old master, Berrigan explores the limitations of human desires for miraculous interventions and the true essence of spiritual wisdom. The novice's lament for not having the power to reverse death, heal sickness, or correct physical ailments reflects a deep yearning to alleviate suffering and effect change in the world. However, this desire is rooted in a misunderstanding of the nature of true power and the role of the spiritual seeker. The master's response is a gentle but firm rebuke of the novice's wishes for supernatural powers. By sharing that even after eighty years of life, he has not performed such miracles, the master underscores the inevitability of life's cycles—children die, people grow sick, and the aged succumb to the natural process of aging and death. These events are presented not as tragedies to be averted at all costs, but as part of the "turn of the wheel," the natural order of existence that leads to "the gateway to paradise." The master warns against the desire to "play God" by controlling life and death, emphasizing that such aspirations distract from the true purpose of spiritual practice. He confesses to still perfecting his "natural powers"—to observe without being swayed, to listen without being overwhelmed, to experience without being consumed, and to connect without being owned. This is a call to mindfulness and presence, to fully engage with life without the desire to dominate or escape it. The poem then takes a whimsical turn, suggesting that if the novice seeks to "walk on water" or "master the air," he might as well learn from dolphins or eagles or join the circus. This section playfully critiques the folly of seeking grandiose powers for personal glory or escape, highlighting the emptiness of such pursuits. Berrigan's poem culminates in a celebration of the miraculous in the mundane—drawing water, hewing wood, breaking stones. True miracles lie in living a life that does not deceive, curse, or harm others. The "irresistible power of natural powers" is found in authenticity, joy, soulfulness, and humility. The final exhortation to the "dry stick" to take root and flourish in the "crude soil of this world" is a metaphor for personal growth and transformation. The liberated zone of paradise is not a distant realm granted by supernatural feats but a state of being achieved through genuine engagement with the world, compassionate action, and spiritual awakening. "Zen Poem" is a reflection on the journey toward understanding the profound beauty and power inherent in living authentically and compassionately, embracing the world as it is, and recognizing the sacred in the everyday. Berrigan invites readers to find their own paths to liberation, not through escaping reality, but by deeply and lovingly participating in it POEM TEXT: https://danielberrigan.org/poems/
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MEDAL; A SATIRE AGAINST SEDITION by JOHN DRYDEN HALSTED STREET CAR by CARL SANDBURG WATER FOWL by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO A LITTLE BOY by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM TO THE SOLITUDE OF FONTENAY by GUILLAUME AMFRYE LA QUINQUE RUE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN A NIGHT FANCY by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE MATRIMONIAL MELODIES: 5. SPEAKING OF DRIVING by BERTON BRALEY |
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