Thomas Merton on Poetry

Take Thomas Merton as your personal poetry professor.

You know Thomas Merton as one of the most beloved voices of the twentieth century: a profound mystic, a gifted writer, and an exceptional teacher. He was also a celebrated poet and lifelong lover of literature, and these lectures showcase his extraordinary insights into poetry.

In this captivating collection, Thomas Merton’s inimitable teaching and powerful speaking will inspire your heart and mind as much as they did for the monks who listened to his talks at the Abbey of Gethsemani. Whatever your level of familiarity with poetry, hearing Merton in his own voice will invigorate your imagination.

With his trademark eloquence, Merton explores how poetry illuminates the human experience of love, suffering, and spirituality. Under his guidance, you will look at poets like William Blake, Gerard Manley Hopkins, W. H. Auden, Charles Peguy, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Thoroughly in touch with contemporary society yet rooted in monastic life, Merton provides a unique perspective on classic literature.

As you will discover, Merton saw poetry not only as one of the most profound modes of human expression but also as a way to encounter God. A brilliant author himself, Thomas Merton possessed an unparalleled appreciation for these poets’ work.

Let the words of this masterful poet enlighten you today.

This set includes an afterword by Thomas Merton biographer and literature professor Michael W. Higgins.

 ** This set was previously published under the title Seeing the World in a Grain of Sand: Thomas Merton on Poetry. It contains essentially the same content.

Photograph of Thomas Merton by Sibylle Akers. Used with Permission of the Merton Legacy Trust and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University.  These recordings are from the archives of the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University, in Louisville, Kentucky.