"Four Quartets": The poem as a whole

[Laurel]

You're more than welcome, Adelle. Thanks to all who have contributed. What an astute group we have!

[Nemo]

I haven't finished the second reading of FQ4 yet, but am wondering which other works of Eliot you (Laurel and the group) would recommend.

[Mary]

The Rock: A Pageant Play.

Strictly speaking, you get "Choruses from 'The Rock'" because he didn't write the whole play. But definitely recommended.

“They constantly try to escape
From the darkness outside and within
By dreaming of systems so perfect that no one will need to be good.
But the man that is shall shadow
The man that pretends to be.”

“O Light Invisible, we praise Thee!
Too bright for mortal vision.

O Greater Light, we praise Thee for the less;
The eastern light our spires touch at morning,
The light that slants upon our western doors at evening,
The twilight over stagnant pools at batflight,
Moon light and star light, owl and moth light,
Glow-worm glowlight on a grassblade.
O Light Invisible, we worship Thee!

We thank Thee for the light that we have kindled,
The light of altar and of sanctuary;
Small lights of those who meditate at midnight
And lights directed through the coloured panes of windows
And light reflected from the polished stone,
The gilded carven wood, the coloured fresco.
Our gaze is submarine, our eyes look upward
And see the light that fractures through unquiet water.
We see the light but see not whence it comes.
O Light Invisible, we glorify Thee!”

[Everyman]

Adelle wrote: "Laurel, Did I thank you already? I can't recall. If I haven't, let me say "THANK YOU." If I have, "thank you.""

I would also like to thank Laurel for another great job of moderation. While I dropped out of the actual reading at a midpoint, I followed the comments with interest, and many of the great links that Laurel posted.

[Theresa]

Laurel wrote: "I think Little Gidding ties the poem together beautifully."

I agree.