Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims,
To continue celebrating the upcoming release of my poetry collection Dreaming of Stones, I have another poem video for you this week. This poem, titled St. Teresa’s Ecstasy, was inspired by the statue created by Bernini which depicts a moment she describes in her autobiography of mystical communion. The poem video also takes its inspiration from this statue.
St. Teresa’s Ecstasy
You must have felt it
once or twice yourself
an early winter morning
as the sun tilts slowly
above the vale of earth
bird wings flap fiercely
slicing the sky as it turns
from lavender to blue
your heart a moth
fluttering in a jar
and for a moment you are
so in love with this world
everything is possible
your skin no longer barrier
but portal to communion
like St. Teresa in her moment
of ecstasy, Seraphim with a
golden spear clearing her out
for love, feet bare, head tilted back,
a moan escapes her lips,
rhapsody, relish, swoon
even when the angel recedes
as her tasks call her back
she can still taste bliss in her
pomegranate mouth
and there are glimpses of paradise
even on rain-soaked days
a sun still gleams
among the half-cut lemons,
the egg yolk, my wedding band.
—Christine Valters Paintner
If you love poetry and want to see it thrive, I would be so grateful if you would consider pre-ordering a copy of Dreaming of Stones and sharing these poem videos with others. The book will be available in the U.S. March 19th. (Also see below for an opportunity to join me in Seattle for an evening of Celtic song, poetry, and dance on March 17th as well as a Sacred Poetry retreat in Chartres, France this coming June 10-14, 2019!)
With great and growing love,
Christine
Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE
Video © Christine Valters Paintner
