I am the Great Sun
From a Normandy crucifix of 1632
I am the great sun, but you do not see me,
I am your husband, but you turn away.
I am the captive, but you do not free me,
I am the captain but you will not obey.
I am the truth, but you will not believe me,
I am the city where you will not stay.
I am your wife, your child, but you will leave me,
I am that God to whom you will not pray.
I am your counsel, but you will not hear me,
I am your lover whom you will betray.
I am the victor, but you do not cheer me,
I am the holy dove whom you will slay.
I am your life, but if you will not name me,
Seal up your soul with tears, and never blame me.
I am the great sun, but you do not see me,
I am your husband, but you turn away.
I am the captive, but you do not free me,
I am the captain but you will not obey.
I am the truth, but you will not believe me,
I am the city where you will not stay.
I am your wife, your child, but you will leave me,
I am that God to whom you will not pray.
I am your counsel, but you will not hear me,
I am your lover whom you will betray.
I am the victor, but you do not cheer me,
I am the holy dove whom you will slay.
I am your life, but if you will not name me,
Seal up your soul with tears, and never blame me.
noorken : I love this poem.
Oldpoetry2 : The notes I have say that this was "inspired by" a crucifix in Normandy dated 1632 and not "from" a crucifix. The way the style fits in so well with Causley is, for me, a clear indication that he wrote it from scratch rather than translated. Jim
: From guest Derek Wood ( contact ) I feel sure that this poem is displayed on the wall of the Cathedral in St David's, Wales. I copied it from there, about sixteen years ago because it struck a chord with me. I have never researched it until now, but I feel sure that the copy on the Cathedral wall was not credited to anyone, I'm sure it says "anon" at the bottom, because that's what I wrote on my copy. Of course, if it is indeed originally from a Normandy crucifix in 1632, did Charles Causley write it, or did he translate it from the French?
: From guest patricia huth ellis ( contact ) Thee is something about this poem that touches my soul as the sound of a violin does sometimes. I absolutely love it and weep everytime I either hear it or read it.
: I love his poems very much !!!!