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| Ludwig Wittgenstein (David Levine) |
Saturday February 01, 2020
It's not resistance.
Rather, it is reacting
to what is the case.
Remain back and to the right,
in the corner of His house.
Sunday February 02, 2020
His monastic life
was more significant than
his patristic strife.
Unlike him I will remain
scrubbing the charterhouse floor.
And then there were three.
Glenn and Bill: still keeping time
as much as Neil now.
I will honor him through them,
because he helped me hear them.
Tuesday February 04, 2020
Dying on the vine
through a lack of nourishment.
No more and no less,
unless the circumstances
indicate so otherwise.
Wednesday February 05, 2020
Keeping your heart safe
can be done by faithfully
listening to it.
It alone knows what is best.
Only then can you do good.
Thursday February 06, 2020
Sit in submission.
Live as clean as possible.
Always be thankful.
These are the ways to practice
the presence of God alone.
Friday February 07, 2020
Teaching days are done.
At both pulpit and lecturn
I have testified.
Now is the time for silence.
I cannot stand lecturing.
Saturday February 08, 2020
Resolute reading
occupies my attention.
This is something new
for my very old take on
Grammatical Thomism.
Sunday February 09, 2020
And so it begins:
the Septuagesima
Sunday morning Mass
prepares the faithful for this
Extraordinary Time.
Monday February 10, 2020
What should I do now?
Don't place any confidence
in your own virtue.
You must control your hunger,
and you must control your tongue.
Tuesday February 11, 2020
Tuesdays and Thursdays
inside the silent comfort
of Saint Monica's
Augustinian guidance.
It's not The Oratory.
Wednesday February 12, 2020
Snares and wickedness
appear at any moment,
without announcement.
Monastic humility
is the key to sanctity.
Thursday February 13, 2020
There are more than three
wise men found in the Bible.
Noah, Job, Daniel
can be added to the list
of those who knew to adore.
Friday February 14, 2020
The hermeneutic
of either conservative
continuity,
or of radical rupture?
Philosopher Reading texts.
Saturday February 15, 2020
Visiting their graves.
My father and grandfather
resting peacefully.
The wisdom of Sophia
inspired us both to go.
Sunday February 16, 2020
And he walked with God,
and was seen no more because:
God took him away.
So it says, and say no more:
Genesis five twenty four.
Monday February 17, 2020
There are twelve more days
until I will leap ahead
and begin again.
All the planning is finished.
All that's required is time.
Tuesday February 18, 2020
Copleston again:
the problem with properties
is grammatical.
It is not universal.
Leave metaphysics alone.
Wednesday February 19, 2020
My Dōgen is done.
And yet, this remnant remains
in the form of love:
sit and pray your Hail Mary
on one hundred and eight beads.
Thursday February 20, 2020
He remained alone
as he wrestled with himself,
day in and night out.
After struggling he said
he liked what was demanded.
Friday February 21, 2020
My fasting today
was simply not slow enough.
Even though I won't
blame my own circumstances,
still, they did quicken the pace.
Saturday February 22, 2020
Insense rising up
from the unworthy faithful.
What of the faithless?
They too have their own insense.
It descends down to the ground.
Sunday February 23, 2020
Yesterday's silence
was the sound of things to come.
Down from five to one.
Once again I am alone,
but without being so shy.
Monday February 24, 2020
Three strokes and you're out
among the faithless outcasts.
Caste systems exist,
especially in the mind.
One reacts, and then remains.
Tuesday February 25, 2020
The significance
of this latest transition?
Ritual matters.
Daily discipline matters.
Facts of the matter matter.
Wednesday February 26, 2020
Merton’s mystical
monographs manufactured
my monastic mind.
His “deeply heretic blood”
runs through my koanic veins.
Thursday February 27, 2020
She's in love with me,
but does not know what to do.
I certainly do:
I have more than enough love
and discipline for us both.
Friday February 28, 2020
Finally writing back
in response to his response
to the shrouded man.
The seat shall remain vacant.
I bow to the empty seat.
Saturday February 29, 2020
Saw the Arbus show
at Toronto's AGO.
Reactive response:
I noticed the beauty mark
on her horrifying face.
