![\"greco-st-kevin-and-the-blackbird-2016\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/81\/2016\/07\/greco-st-kevin-and-the-blackbird-2016.jpg\")
<\/a>\nHere at the Russell Lockwood Leadership School<\/a>, my old and dear friend the wise Reverend Jan Christian just read us a poem. You might want to hear it, as well\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n
St Kevin and the Blackbird<\/strong><\/p>\n by Seamus Heaney<\/p>\n And then there was St Kevin and the blackbird. One turned-up palm is out the window, stiff Kevin feels the warm eggs, the small breast, the tucked Is moved to pity: now he must hold his hand *<\/p>\n And since the whole thing\u2019s imagined anyhow, From the neck on out down through his hurting forearms? Crept up through him? Is there distance in his head? A prayer his body makes entirely (from Spirit Level<\/em>, Faber, 1996)<\/p>\n
\nThe saint is kneeling, arms stretched out, inside
\nHis cell, but the cell is narrow, so<\/p>\n
\nAs a crossbeam, when a blackbird lands
\nAnd lays in it and settles down to nest.<\/p>\n
\nNeat head and claws and, finding himself linked
\nInto the network of eternal life,<\/p>\n
\nLike a branch out in the sun and rain for weeks
\nUntil the young are hatched and fledged and flown.<\/p>\n
\nImagine being Kevin. Which is he?
\nSelf-forgetful or in agony all the time<\/p>\n
\nAre his fingers sleeping? Does he still feel his knees?
\nOr has the shut-eyed blank of underearth<\/p>\n
\nAlone and mirrored clear in love\u2019s deep river,
\n\u2018To labour and not to seek reward,\u2019 he prays,<\/p>\n
\nFor he has forgotten self, forgotten bird
\nAnd on the riverbank forgotten the river\u2019s name.<\/p>\n