It might take a battle or two to find your understanding of the symbols in Thompson’s poem. But shall we try? Is there any reason why we would not seek to understand this magnificent poem?

TIP: Thompson is looking in all the wrong places for freedom. He looks at the things and objects that are impermanent – are you doing the same in your life?

Let’s begin with two short vignettes about death.

Death and the reaction to death.

1. Many years ago I heard a highly trained spiritual teacher relay an incident he experienced with his teacher.His teacher was well-respected and had a large following. When this respected teacher was about to go into a crowd of devotees, he was called to take a telephone call. The teacher did not know what the caller wanted but he decided to take the call. While on the phone his student watched him get very upset, so much so that he began to cry. The student was a bit shocked that his teacher was starting to cry. When the teacher ended the phone call he continued to cry for a few minutes and then STOPPED; he got up and without another tear went to teach.

Another reaction to death.

2. This vignette is about a very famous, world reknown teacher who also received a phone call before giving a talk to countless students around the world.This teacher did not know what the caller wanted as did the first teacher. This teacher took the call. While on the phone, this teacher began to weep incessantly. The weeping was constant. When this teacher went to teach to an enormous crowd, the weeping and sorrow continued and became the lesson. This teacher was able to teach the loss, the sorrow, the struggle with the loss of a friend in ways of grief. I will never see the other again, never see the light and vivaciousness of the friend. This teacher DID NOT STOP WEEPING. The weeping and loss became the topic of the teacher’s talk.

Consider the two responses. What is your reaction? I suggest you contemplate your mind. Do you see one reaction better than the other? Do you feel compelled to judge and measure one better than the other?

With whatever your reaction is take it with you as you continue to read the exposition of The Hound of Heaven.

This stanza 3 is laden with dependence. Let me repeat that, THIS STANZA IS LADEN WITH DEPENDENCE.

 

Stanza 3.

I sought no more that after which I strayed

In face of man or maid;

Thompson realizes he cannot depend on his peers. He relinquishes seeking from The face of a man & the face of a woman. This relinquishment requires strength to turn away from other adults. It is the beginning of letting go. Thompson is letting go of his dependence on the charity of other adults. “He sought no more…from them!

What do you seek from others…from your peers? How do you depend on them?

As you read this stanza refer to the two teachers…one STOPPED crying, the other expressed it. Then, continue with Thompson and kids. Surely they will reply! He, however, finds the kids are plucked away by their angels. Perhaps Thompson refers to them in this way because kids grow up too fast and are in essence gone. no more need for Thompson.

But still within the little children’s eyes

Seems something, something that replies;

They at least are for me, surely for me!

I turned me to them very wistfully;

But just as their young eyes grew sudden fair

With dawning answers there,

Their angel plucked them from me by the hair.

So far, other adults, and small kids are not providing succor or relife for Thompson. Thompson recognizes he cannot depend on other adults or kids. He then turns to nature, which he sees as the other children.

Thompson sets out all of our three hopes and the loss of our three hopes.

• Man and himself.
• Man and others.
• Man and nature.These three hopes are also seen as what mankind fights against.
• Man against himself.
• Man against man.
• Man against nature

‘Come then, ye other children, Nature’s—share

With me’ (said I) ‘your delicate fellowship;

Let me greet you lip to lip,

Let me twine with you caresses,

Wantoning

With our Lady-Mother’s vagrant tresses,

Banqueting

With her in her wind-walled palace,

Underneath her azured daïs,

Quaffing, as your taintless way is,

From a chalice

Lucent-weeping out of the dayspring.’

So it was done:

I in their delicate fellowship was one—

Drew the bolt of Nature’s secrecies.

I knew all the swift importings

On the wilful face of skies;

I knew how the clouds arise

Spumèd of the wild sea-snortings;

All that’s born or dies

Rose and drooped with; made them shapers

Of mine own moods, or wailful or divine;

With them joyed and was bereaven.

I was heavy with the even,

When she lit her glimmering tapers

Round the day’s dead sanctities.

I laughed in the morning’s eyes.

The last part of this stanza shifts. Thompson laughs, but it may be a mocking, bitter laugh of recognizing depending on anyone or any thing is impossible.

Does he know that all things are impermanent? That dependence on the objects in the world leads again and again to disappointment? How about YOU?

What do you depend on? Do you feel bitter when you begin to realize there is no “thing,” “no object” that is reliable.

This is the Way life is…life becomes an agony when we rely and depend on the external world. It is there that suffering exists.

TUNE IT NEXT TIME for the next stanza.

This is a strong medicine poem. Don’t give up! Keep studying yourself.

Contact yao.xiang.editor@gmail.com to reach a priest