Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Poetry Wednesday--Mechthild of Magdeburg

Mechthild of Magdeburg was a 13th century German nun who had a life-changing spiritual experience at the age of 12.  Afterwards she understood that "all things are in God and God is in all things".  She wrote mystical love poetry that is considered among the best ever composed.

It is thought that the author Dante based his character Matilda in The Divine Comedy on her.

This poem is called A Fish Cannot Drown in Water.

A fish cannot drown in water,
A bird does not fall in air.
In the fire of creation,
God doesn't vanish:
The fire brightens.
Each creature God made
must live in its own true nature;
How could I resist my nature,

That lives for oneness with God? 

Hat tip to Poetry Chaikhana.

4 comments:

Poetry of the Day said...

oh man, this is interesting

- <3 Famous Poetry about life

Staying in Balance said...

I'm really liking Mechtild.

TACParent said...

That poem is wonderful. Thanks for posting it.

Staying in Balance said...

You're welcome. I'm reading about Mechthild of Magdeburg right now in a book of women mystics.

Dymphna's favorite quotes


"Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively a rule of universal abolition. "— Rodney Stark

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