"Let us View with Joy and Mirth" by Madeleine L'Engle

Back in January I began reading Madeleine L’Engle’s Crosswicks Journals. They are a beautiful mix of sacred and vulgar—an honest reflection of the things going on around her and the things she learns about God along the way. It has been slow going, but this weekend I finished The Irrational Season. This particular volume is divided by the church-year calendar, and begins at Advent time. When I began (back in April), it seemed a little absurd to be preparing for Winter, but I diligently marked the pages nonetheless. Madeleine’s poetry is peppered throughout the book, and as soon as I read this poem, I knew it would have to make an appearance:

Let us View with Joy and Mirth

Let us view with joy and mirth
All the clocks upon the earth
            Holding time with busy tocking
            Ticking booming clanking clocking
                        Anxiously unraveling
                        Time's traveling
Through the stars and winds and tides
Who can tell where time abides?

Foolish clocks, all time was broken
When that first great Word was spoken.
            Cease we now this silly fleeing
            From earth's time, for time's a being
                        And adoring
                        Bows before him
Who upon the throne is seated.
Time, defeated, wins, is greeted.

Clocks know not time's loving wonder
Day above as night swings under,
            Turning always to the Son
            Times begun, is done, does run
                        Singing warning

            Of the morning
Time, mass, space, a mystery
Of eternal trinity.

Time needs make no poor apology
For bursting forth from man's chronology
Laughs in glee as human hours
Dance before the heavenly powers.
            Time's undone
            Because the Son
Swiftly calls the coming light
That will end the far-spent night.

from The Irrational Season, chapter 1

Madeleine L’Engle