Monday, May 23, 2016

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.