Perfection, Perfection

Krista Tippett is a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster and New York Times bestselling author. In her latest book, Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, she tells a story about Father Kilian McDonnell, the monk of St. John’s Abbey. He had become a globe-trotting theological ambassador after growing up in the backwoods of South Dakota. In his seventies, he became a fairly successful published poet. Ms. Tippett included the poem below in her book (pp. 20-21).

Perfection, Perfection

I have had it with perfection.

I have packed my bags,

I am out of here.

Gone.

As certain as rain

will make you wet,

perfection will do you

in.

It droppeth not as dew

upon the summer grass

to give liberty and green

joy.

Perfection straineth out

the quality of mercy,

withers rapture at its

birth.

Before the battle is half begun,

cold probity thinks

it can’t be won, concedes the

war.

I’ve handed in my notice,

given back my keys.

signed my severance check, I

quit.

Hints I could have taken:

Even the perfect chiseled form of

Michelangelo’s radiant David

squints,

the Venus de Milo

has no arms,

the Liberty Bell is

cracked.