IN DARK TIMES

Few of us who have reached retirement have avoided times of darkness and pain in the midst of life. It is even possible that we have made some deep discoveries of grace at such times.

Here are a couple of poems that have spoken powerfully to me in bleak times.

VALE OF TEARS. A PRAYER

Drab,groping tunnel where I stumble dark,
Black tearing, tiring at my brain,
Here two things I ask,
Not one,
That though I'll joy to bask
Again in sun,
It will not be
The end where I came in.

Mig Holder in MAKING EDEN GROW
Scripture Union, 1974


When we are weak, we are
strong. When our eyes close
on the world, then somewhere
within us the bush

burns. When we are poor
and aware of the inadequacy
of our table, it is to that
uninvited the guest comes.


R.S.Thomas in COUNTERPOINT
Bloodaxe Books 1990