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Life in the Cave

Fr. Paul Ward

Life in the cave,

it’s hard to say how much I love it.

Socrates tells me they’re shadows,

and I don’t feel compelled to believe him.

Maybe Plato’s story is itself a shadow.

Who are you, are you, too, a shadow?

I call you real,

but when I look in your eyes,

Plato’s cave fades,

the blinding of his sunlight, however,

still burns.

For your are the greatest mystery, my God,

and I love to have my eyes burned by yours,

the real is within you, whom I love.

Can all these things you gave me,

lie?

My Love has given me goods,

not shadows,

blessings that aren’t revelation

- that’s just for prophets and apostles -

but evidence for the heart.

When I see the beauty of your creatures,

When I behold the goodness of reality,

When I relish the truth of being,

I am looking into your eyes,

seeing what’s most through what’s less,

but all real.

Oh, when I see beauty,

it’s as gazing into God’s eyes!