For the listener, who listens in the snow, And, nothing himself, beholds nothing that is not there and the nothing that is. — Wallace Stevens, “The Snow Man”
There ought not to be anything but that my mind has ordered it so —
So I had been taught — for the mind is designer
Reality but the by-blow, bastard child that diminishes as I diminish
But that the Emperor of Ice-Cream has clay feet
Which stand on eternity’s threshold eyeing a feast.
There the bread and wine of Thy design
Grain and grape sweetly lies upon the tongue
To “taste and see the goodness of the LORD”
Yet nothing tasting if not sanctified by Thy Word
Blood spilled and body broken
Spoken gospel of love heard by a few
Who once nothing being are born in You
Till nothing become sons and daughters
Alive to You.
Laura at dVerse asks us to address paradox as a matter for today’s “Poetics” prompt, including using as a starting point and/or epigraph the above Wallace Stevens quotation. Click on Mr. Linky for more and join in!
This Jolly Beggar 
I could SEE Wallace Steven’s spirit throughout this poem. WOW! You really took on his voice here for the prompt and that is amazing. A very beautiful and well-written piece, Dora. ❤ ❤
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Thank you, Lucy! I love Wallace Stevens and that you see something of him in this makes me ecstatic 🤩
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there is so much packed into this poem that a re-read several times is necessary when the nothingness becomes born-again. I loved these lines too
“But that the Emperor of Icecream has clay feet
Which stand on eternity’s threshold eyeing a feast.”
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🌹
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This is absolutely OUTSTANDING! 😍 I love; “But that the Emperor of Ice-Cream has clay feet
which stand on eternity’s threshold eyeing a feast.”
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Thank you so much, Sanaa! 💝
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The mind is a trickster and what an awakening when you see its feet of clay. I like turning to the “snow man” that sprouted to save us from ourselves ❤
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Awakenings are much to be desired. Thanks for reading and commenting, Lisa! 🍦
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You’re very welcome ❤
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You have done a wonderful interpretation of both the prompt and the theology of it all! Well done Dora.
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Thank you kindly, Dwight! 🙂
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I like your exploration of the paradox through the spiritual dimension: it is a wonderful way to explore the theme of the Stevens poem.
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Thank you, Ingrid! Glad you liked it. 🙂
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Touching Dora…
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😊 Thank you!
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Dora – this is so true. What a beautiful poem…
-David
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David—
So glad you found meaning in that line. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
Pax,
Dora
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I do love how you went from the line and spun your own thoughts around spirituality and belief.. the paradox between what’s written and beliefs is what I read.
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There seems that paradoxical implication, and it adds to the longing for the experiential for those whose belief is being tested.
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a powerful poem that resonates with so many, well done Dora!
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Thank you! Glad you liked it, Kate. Some poems come so much more naturally than others and this was one of them.
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yes it most certainly feels like it’s straight from the heart Dora, a testimony to your faith!
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💝
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