The Sea of Traherne

You never enjoy the world aright till the sea itself floweth in your veins.—Thomas Traherne, Centuries of Meditation

1. Dawn

All through his body is a joyful pulse That says his love’s more wide and canyon-deep Than anyone can tell—the morning dew Increases him, and he wraps round the Earth.

2. Noon & Night

Inside his skull, the innocence of sharks Disperses fins of rainbow, ruby, pearl; Within the heart’s a beat unspeakable, Though peaceful, tethered to a coral branch.

3. At all Times, in all Places

He’s sportive in eternal founts of time Where all of past and future surge as one, Where trooping waves dance up a shingle beach, Laughing and tossing bright confetti wealth Of burnished glass and conch and weed to shore In tide that’s full yet always coming in.

Marly Youmans’ The Curse of the Raven Mocker was recently issued in paperback (Firebird).

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today/Books & Culture magazine. Click here for reprint information on Books & Culture.

Our Latest

The Bulletin

A Third Presidential Term, South American Boat Strikes, and ChatGPT Erotica

Trump hints at running in 2028, US strikes more alleged drug boats, ChatGPT produces erotica.

Review

Finding God on the Margins of American Universities

A new account of faith in higher education adds some neglected themes to more familiar story lines.

From Prohibition to Pornography

In 1958, CT pushed evangelicals to engage important moral issues even when they seemed old-fashioned.

Indian Churches Encourage Couples to Leave and Cleave

For many couples, in-laws are a major source of marital strife.

Tackling Unemployment

The head of The T.D. Jakes foundation on job assistance and economic empowerment.

Review

First Comes Sex, Then Comes Gender

A new book acknowledges both categories as biblically valid—but insists on ordering them properly.

In Politics, Contempt Is a Common Tongue

Antisemitic, racist texts show the need for spiritual and character renewal.

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Stephen Enada: Exposing a Silent Slaughter

Unpacking the crisis facing Nigeria’s persecuted Church

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube