Does the rising sun
seek applause? Devote yourself
to your intention.
from Unfurlings – poems by Ian Adams (poet, painter, priest)
16 April 2016
A few weeks ago I went to a poetry reading in Bath and heard Ian Adams for the first time. I’d been informed about the retreats he runs, but never met him. To discover more about this interesting guy and what he does visit www.belovedlife.org and you may find yourself at the beginning of an interesting journey. I would LOVE to go on a retreat, but unfortunately cannot see myself making the time. Ian Adams would probably tell me that it proves how much I need to. And if you read this week’s ‘And Finally’ column, in which I mention being ill and reading Ian Adams and Christian Bobin, you might conclude that this lady is in urgent need of rest and recuperation….
Anyway, I bought Ian’s first book of poems, called Unfurlings – and am very impressed by it. He is fascinated by the haiku form, and I confess that after struggling with certain, much-lauded contemporary poets recently, I fell on these short poems like manna from heaven. He has also published a quietly marvellous book called ‘Cave, Refectory, Road’ which captures the genius of the monastic tradition and inspires us to use it within our own daily lives.
Here is another ‘unfurling’:
Find your stillpoint, dawn
Of your belovedness; now
Rise into new day.
This blog is never ‘about’ literary criticism, but tries to raise lessons we can all take from the words I choose for the top of my column – quotations that readers tell me they love so much.
When I read this one I thought immediately of what has come to be known as ‘virtue signalling.’ You know – you don’t just do good, you have to be seen to be doing good. For me (and I’m sorry to say this) one of the worse recent manifestation was that of famous people being photographed holding up signs saying ’Refugees Welcome.’ What was that about? I mean – which refugees and from where and what to do and how to do it….? So much complexity than cannot be fitted into two words that say, “I am such a good, kind person.’
This is not a political point – not in any way at all. It just expresses my frustration that nowadays there is too much TELLING and not enough DOING, and that famous people (footballers and actresses, to name but two groups) attach themselves to good causes because it is good for their egos.
They certainly do ‘seek applause.’ They need to feel good about themselves and to bask in the admiration of others. Oh, there is so much of this about! That it is unthinking goes without saying. The uncomfortable questions are not asked; nuance and shade lost in the blaze of light from the mirror. Much better to keep quiet, think hard, struggle to act in good faith – and remain silent about that effort.
Adams offers an alternative. Quietness. Mindfulness. Silence. Intent. You do not need to tell anybody about anything good you may have done, nor require acknowledgement for any achievement. As T.S.Eliot wrote, ‘For us there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.’