The clearing rests in song and shade.
It is a creature made
By old light held in soil and leaf,
By human joy and grief,
By human work,
Fidelity of sight and stroke,
By rain, by water on
The parent stone.
We join our work to Heaven’s gift,
Our hope to what is left,
That field and woods at last agree
In an economy
Of widest worth,
High Heaven’s Kingdom come on earth.
Imagine paradise,
O dust, arise!
Wendell Berry (1934- ), Sabbath Poem VII.
Lawrence Osborn comments: 'Wendell Berry gave this poem the title 'Sabbath Poem VII'. Berry envisages the Sabbath as much more than church attendance. For him, it speaks of us humans resting from our manipulation of creation, allowing it to rest as well. He reminds us that creation is a gift of God that we hold in trust rather than raw material to be exploited. This weekly rhythm of rest is presented as reordering human labour towards peace, reverence, and greater harmony with creation pointing us to the ultimate Sabbath.' Another commentator has written of the poet, 'In his opinion, many environmentalists place too much emphasis on wild lands without acknowledging the importance of agriculture to our society. Berry strongly believes that small-scale farming is essential to healthy local economies, and that strong local economies are essential to the survival of the species and the wellbeing of the planet.' (The Poetry Foundation).
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