"A SAILOR'S PRAYER"
Sir-I feel that "Scribere" is unduly upsetting himself by his attitude towards Denis Glover’s "A Sailor’s Prayer," and I was interested enough to look up Exodus xx: 7, as suggested. I certainly did not see the poem was "taking the aame of the Lord in Vain." On the contrary, I think your answer very apt in replying with Matthew ix: 10, 11, 12 (I also looked that up!) That such a small poem can make one think-no matter on what linesshows its worth, and reactions will be according to the mental outlook of the reader. If people were less concerned with the morals of others and thought more of their individual attitude towards life, we should. probably get a long way ‘ahead of the sorry state we find the world in today. All religious dissensions are because of lack of understanding of individual needs, the feeling to "live and let live." It is not reading the Bible or going to church which makes the good Christian. There was no Bible when Christ was alive. His church was the wide open spaces, and He was a very great Christian. May I quote the Persian poetphilosopher? And this I know: whether the one True Kindle rg Love, or Wrath-consume me ge Ae of It within the Tavern caught Better than in the Temple lost outright. That we achieve spiritual enlightenment is the all important factor-when and how is a secondary consideration. We are many people in one, and are conditioned by things, facts and places -we can’t all feel and act the same. It is sufficient that the sailor knows God will appreciate that he will be At Sunday church With a clean white front And polished shoes And no booze. This proves that he has a right sense of values and pavs homage in his own
way.
T. de LANCY
GREEN
(New Plymouth). |
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19530508.2.12.7
Bibliographic details
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 721, 8 May 1953, Page 5
Word count
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315"A SAILOR'S PRAYER" New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 721, 8 May 1953, Page 5
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
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