Gnosis

This poem was inspired by a line in C.S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet, where one character remarks:

“And I say also this. I do not think the forest would be so bright, nor the water so warm, nor love so sweet, if there were no danger in the lakes.”

This led to a reflection on how the bitterness of death which curtails our life also makes our life so sweet and precious, and how this is mirrored in the contrasts we find around us in the world, the opposites of life and death, the Yin and Yang, the balancing of the scales, and how time is both given to us, and taken away.

Gnosis

Knowledge or ignorance, foolish or wise
Epiphanies break and they open our eyes
The passing of seasons, the turning of days
The wonder of time that inspires us to praise

The beauty of darkness, the glory of light
The mildest of breezes, the storm in its might
The stars in their courses, high soaring above
The tears of the rain, the sunlight of love

All creatures on earth, both greatest and small
Their moment in daylight, but night comes to all
Bare are the branches, no leaves on the tree
And rocks crumble to sand, eroded by sea

All comes to an end, to all things the night
The vision grows dim, all veiling their sight
But welcome the darkness, that helps us to see
Death at the end can make us more free