Emblems of a Season of Fury

by Thomas Merton, Pablo Antonio Cuadra, Raïssa Maritain

Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, shows in this volume a deep and painful awareness of the problems of the world beyond his monastery walls. Merton said that the twentieth century man who has not meditated on Auschwitz does not yet know the meaning of meditation of the meaning of his own times. These poems are often points for such meditation. "Chants for a Site With Furnaces" combines ironic understatement with parody of the stereotypes commonly used to justify such massive crimes against humanity. Along with these "emblems" of nuclear-age pathology are elegies for Hemingway and Thurber, religious and metaphysical poems of contemplative life and a long prose "Letter" on the Cold War. In addition, there is a section of translations from the works of Vallejo (Peru), Carrera Andrade (Ecuador), Cuadra, Cardenal, and Cortes (Nicaragua), and a selection of mystical poems by Raissa Maritain, wife of the Thomist philosopher.

Genres: Poetry

149 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Thomas Merton, religious name M. Louis, was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. In December 1941 he entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani and in May 1949 he was ordained to priesthood. He was a member of the convent of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, near Bardstown, Kentucky, living there from 1941 to his death.
Merton wrote more than 50 books in a period of 27 years, mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as scores of essays and reviews. Among Merton's most enduring works is his bestselling autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain (1948). His account of his spiritual journey inspired scores of World War II veterans, students, and teenagers to explore offerings of monasteries across the US. It is on National Review's list of the 100 best nonfiction books of the century.
Merton became a keen proponent of interfaith understanding, exploring Eastern religions through his study of mystic practice. His interfaith conversation, which preserved both Protestant and Catholic theological positions, helped to build mutual respect via their shared experiences at a period of heightened hostility. He is particularly known for having pioneered dialogue with prominent Asian spiritual figures, including the Dalai Lama XIV; Japanese writer D.T. Suzuki; Thai Buddhist monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, and Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. He traveled extensively in the course of meeting with them and attending international conferences on religion. In addition, he wrote books on Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and how Christianity is related to them. This was highly unusual at the time in the United States, particularly within the religious orders.

Reviews

[Reese Avery]

Chose to start with this collection of Merton’s verse only because it was the volume available at the library that day. Go figure.

I’ll most remember this for its centerpiece, “A Letter to Pablo Antonio Cuadra Concerning Giants” which is an excellent essay on the vying powers of the cold war and modernity’s endeavors to recklessly exterminate humanity. It also touches on the Church’s role in the colonization of South America and, in my opinion, calls out the errors and grave abuses of doctrine committed by the original missionaries. I’d love to spend more time with this essay and break it down a bit further.

It then leads into selections of translations of prominent South American poets by the author, which is pretty damn cool although hit or miss just like his own verse here. The César Vallejo translations are badass but that’s probably mostly owing to César Vallejo being badass.

What I thought would’ve made for an eclectic collection really turns out to be so in the end, but with an impressive degree of harmony between parts. Just gonna read a selected works next most likely, but was glad to come across this oddity. Happy Easter y’all.

[Gage Hoefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd but interesting collection of letters and poetry. Good translations from what I can tell, and his strong antiwar stance is infused with his mystic Catholicism which is something to ponder.

[Steven Tryon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems to me that as Merton moved into the 60s his writing became less obscure and full of itself and more tied to other people's lives and struggles. I enjoyed reading this selection.

[Christopher Gow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some gems - also includes Merton’s translations of Latino poets (which I didn’t know existed)