Unless a Grain of Wheat Falls into the Ground and Dies by Malcolm Guite Oh let me fall as grain to the good earth And die away from all dry separation, Die to my sole self, and find new birth Within that very death, a dark fruition, Deep in this crowded underground, to learn The earthy otherness of every other, To know that nothing is achieved alone But only where these other fallen gather. If I bear fruit and break through to bright air, Then fall upon me with your freeing flail To shuck this husk and leave me sheer and clear As heaven-handled Hopkins, that my fall May be more fruitful and my autumn still A golden evening where your barns are full. READ FULL POST: Unless a grain of wheat
Hat Tip
Many thanks to Sister Renee at Lavish Mercy for introducing me to this poem in the post Remember and Love Generously.
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~Sunnyside
At Sunnyside - Where Truth and Beauty Meet 
This is really a beautiful painting.
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I am happy you enjoy it, too, Sheila Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂🌻
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I was in Carcassonne last year and visited the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Carcassonne–thanks for the memory.
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How wonderful, Madeline! You are fortunate, indeed! 🙂🌻
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💛
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I read this very poem this past week! I am presently reading Guite’s small book of some lectures he had delivered entitled “Lifting the Veil: Imagination and the Kingdom of God”. He used that poem as an illustration of the chapter topic Christ and the Moral Imagination. He is arguing for the importance of imagination and intuition found in the arts. Malcolm Guite is one of my favorite poets. I have six books of his poetry. Glad you have discovered him. I continue to love your website. Peace, LaMon
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Thank you for the recommendation, LaMon. I have added this book to my list. https://www.amazon.com/Lifting-Veil-Imagination-Kingdom-God/dp/1941106226/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3P4VHT71C90PS&keywords=malcolm+guite+books&qid=1695214612&sprefix=malcolm+guite%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1
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A truly wonderful poem I’ve not read before. I know of him through a book called: LOVE, REMEMBER (2017) in which he reflects on the poems of many great poets, from Shakespeare to Carol Ann Duffy. The subtitle: 40 Poems of Loss, Lament & Hope. It was & still is a great source of solace. I found it shortly after my dear mother passed away in 2016. 🙏
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My sincere condolences on the loss of your dear mother, Ashley. Thank you for the book recommendation. I found it on Amazon and look forward to reading it – and many more. https://www.amazon.com/Love-Remember-poems-loss-lament/dp/1786220016/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3P4VHT71C90PS&keywords=malcolm+guite+books&qid=1695214323&sprefix=malcolm+guite%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-10
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You can find me on Goodreads although I only joined a couple of years ago! 🌹🙋♂️
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Very beautiful. ❤
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Anna. I am happy you enjoy this. 🙂🌻
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This is downright Buddhist!
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Indeed! lol 🙂❤️
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Stunning indeed
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Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts, pirkkotervo. 🙂🌻
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Very nice art work and poetry
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I am happy you enjoy these, Vivienne. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂🌺
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