Of all that God has shown me
I can speak just the smallest word,
Nor more than a honey bee
Takes on his foot
From an overspilling jar.
translated by Jane Hirshfield
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This gem of a poem came to me today quite serendipitously. I had a visit from a friend who’d been clearing 
out her house and found a book that had once belonged to my mother. The book, was Original Blessing by Mathew Fox. I opened a random page and found a reference to Mechthild of Magdeburg.
out her house and found a book that had once belonged to my mother. The book, was Original Blessing by Mathew Fox. I opened a random page and found a reference to Mechthild of Magdeburg.The name caught my eye so I googled it, found that she was a thirteenth century mystic and poet and went searching some more. Not only did I discover Mechthild but also her translator and that was another delight, Jane is a poet too. And from what I have read so far, her poems are extraordinary. I hope to bring you one in the future.
To read a bio of Mechthild go here.
To read more poems for a Tuesday go to Tuesday Poem.
gurglewords 