604, 605, and 618

This vessel I must cast into the fire

and I cannot see when it will done;

but cannot stop, nor rest, nor ever tire

until the contents of its hollow run

o’er every side, and then I’ll stretch it more,

so that the whole can know the vessel well—

so that the want its hollow is made for

has room for oceans deep of it to dwell.

It is for every feeling of your heart

I craft my vessel’s depth so ceaselessly.

I’ll keep your joy and fear in equal part

if you can trust their overflow to me.

I’ll make the room. I yearn to bear it all—

your deepest pains and loves, both great and small.

~~~

This tabernacle that you’ve made of me

has curtains full of tears. Read as you will.

Somehow though, less, not more, thy light they see

who bear me offerings and good blood spill.

What good’s a wrap of skin that hides its light

despite its speckled holes? I bend to gold

that can be seen by men’s torchlight at night,

that won’t be lost in my torn curtains’ fold.

Tho cold is that bright gold, and warm the light

I hide inside these tattered curtains. You

are, in me, more than luminous and bright,

and heat is more than gold will ever do.

If I share not the light you let me see,

I bear, at least, that warmth you give to me.

~~~

On May 11th, 1926, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis met for the first time. Lewis wrote in his diary that night: “He is a smooth, pale, fluent little chap … No harm in him: only needs a smack or so”.

~

That “fluent little chap” could have been foe

if you had let him be. As you once said,

‘no harm in him: but needs a smack or so’,

until you joined his Coalbiters instead.

Some know more, some know less what happened then,

from Coal to Ink as you two would be wont;

but we all know who see it now, that when

you saw how he saw God, you, too, so sought.

And thank God that you did. For you turned Coal

to Diamonds, as it were. Though you would say

that Diamonds are but one face of a whole,

and that Coal says the same another way.

But set asides aside. You got the smack

you wished for Tolkien, and God got you back.