Jan 30, 2020
Maitreyabandhu draws
out the deeper meaning and finer detail of the poem entitled A
Measuring Worm, by Richard Wilbur. In the full talk entitled
A New
Knowledge of Reality-Buddhism and Poetry, Maitreyabandhu
discusses five different poems, each around the theme of death,
with the final poem focusing on spiritual rebirth.
By discussing the background of the poems and poets, the
intricacies of their structure, and bringing in a Buddhist
interpretation of the themes raised in the poems, Maitreyabandhu
shows us the importance and profundity of poetry and how it can
help us to explore Dharmic themes more deeply.
Talk given on a special evening at
Padmaloka Retreat Centre during the System of Dharma Training
retreat in December 2018.
a measuring worm :: richard wilbur
This yellow striped green
Caterpillar, climbing up
The steep window screen,
Constantly (for lack
Of a full set of legs) keeps
Humping up his back.
It’s as if he sent
By a sort of semaphore
Dark omegas meant
To warn of Last Things.
Although he doesn’t know it,
He will soon have wings,
And I, too, don’t know
Toward what undreamt condition
Inch by inch I go.
***
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