गीत गजल कविता : I, myself am distraction

Suppose that my “poverty” be a hunger for spiritual riches:

suppose that by pretending to empty myself, pretending to be silent,

I am really trying to cajole God into enriching me with some experience

— what then?

Then everything becomes a distraction.

All created things interfere with my quest for some special experience.

I must shut them out, or they will tear me apart.

What is worst — I, myself am distraction.

But, unhappiest of all — if my prayer is centered in myself,

if it seeks only an enrichment of my own self,

my prayer will be my greatest potential distraction.

Full of my own curiosity,

I have eaten of the tree of Knowledge and

torn myself away from myself and God.

I am left rich and alone and nothing can assuage my hunger:

everything I touch turns into distraction.

~ Thomas Merton

from Thoughts In Solitude

sketch by the author

बुधवार, 8 दिसंबर 2010