Two Voices in a Meadow

Christian Century, August 23, 2003 by Richard Wilbur

Two Voices in a Meadow

   A Milkweed

   Anonymous as cherubs
   Over the crib of God,
   White seeds are floating
   Out of my burst pod.
   What power had I
   Before I learned to yield?
   Shatter me, great wind:
   I shall possess the field.

   A Stone

   As casual as cow-dung
   Under the crib of God,
   I lie where chance would have me,
   Up to the ears in sod.
   Why should I move? To move
   Befits a light desire.
   The sill of heaven would founder,
   Did such as I aspire.

"Two Voices in a Meadow," from Advice to a Prophet and Other Poems, copyright [c] 1957 and renewed 1985 by Richard Wilbur; reprinted by permission of Harcourt, Inc.

THE MILKWEED and the stone of Richard Wilbur's "Two Voices in a Meadow" speak for and to all small, seemingly insignificant things, including me, with the deceptive simplicity of an earthy parable of Jesus. How do we yield? How best can we please our Creator? From the meadow we hear whispers of original intention, complementary character, and dignity bestowed. Closer now to "the crib of God," I listen to the dialogue again, and then again, for surely there is yet more to be discerned. Such is the nature of a parable, a poem and my need. Wilbur was awarded the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for his New and Collected Poems and has been poet laureate of the United States.

--Ann Horn, who has served as elder and is coordinator of the Trinity Worldview Series at Trinity Church (Evangelical Covenant) in Livonia, Michigan