Dante

Posted on 1.06.2010

Following Brad's blog got me interested in reading some of Wendell Berry's poetry.

Last night, before bed, I read a poem of Berry's that, in light of my recent posts about hell, perfectly captures my sentiments on the subject. The poem, entitled Dante, is very short. Here it is:


Dante

If you imagine
others are there,
you are there yourself.

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4 thoughts on “Dante”

  1. Nice.

    Here's a Berry poem I like that says something about heaven.


    TO MY MOTHER

    I was your rebellious son,
    do you remember? Sometimes
    I wonder if you do remember,
    so complete has your forgiveness been.

    So complete has your forgiveness been
    I wonder sometimes if it did not
    precede my wrong, and I erred,
    safe found, within your love,

    prepared ahead of me, the way home,
    or my bed at night, so that almost
    I should forgive you, who perhaps
    foresaw the worst that I might do,

    and forgave before I could act,
    causing me to smile now, looking back,
    to see how paltry was my worst,
    compared to your forgiveness of it

    already given. And this, then,
    is the vision of that Heaven of which
    we have heard, where those who love
    each other have forgiven each other,

    where, for that, the leaves are green,
    the light a music in the air,
    and all is unentangled,
    and all is undismayed.

  4. Richard, I believe it is from a book entitled "Entries." It is also in a book of selected poems - I think it's called "The Selected Poems of Wendell Berry."

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