A poem today from May Sarton (May 3, 1912-July 16, 1995), who may never have joined a Unitarian Universalist church, but did walk in our circles. She gave the 1982 Ware Lecture at General Assembly, and was awarded an honorary degree from Starr King School for the Ministry, one of two Unitarian Universalist seminaries.

This poem speaks to me about the finding of a place to belong, the way I felt when I first joined the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee. Enjoy.

Now Voyager

by May Sarton

Now voyager, lay here your dazzled head.
Come back to earth from air, be nourished,
Not with that light on light, but with this bread.
Here close to earth be cherished, mortal heart,
Hold your way deep as roots push rocks apart
To bring the spurt of green up from the dark.
Where music thundered let the mind be still,
Where the will triumphed let there be no will,
What light revealed, now let the dark fulfill.
Here close to earth the deeper pulse is stirred,
Here where no wings rush and no sudden bird,
But only heart-beat upon beat is heard.
Here let the fiery burden be all spilled,
The passionate voice at last be calmed and stilled
And the long yearning of the blood fulfilled.
Now voyager, come home, come home to rest,
Here on the long-lost country of earth’s breast
Lay down the fiery vision, and be blest, be blest.

Source: “Now Voyager,” by poet May Sarton (May 3, 1912-July 16, 1995)