Have you ever felt a connection to the divine, or experienced a moment of transcendence? If so, then you know what it’s like to touch the mystical side of life.
Mystic poetry is all about those moments when we feel close to something bigger than ourselves. It’s about capturing the feeling of awe and reverence that comes from communing with the natural world or experiencing the power of love. Mystic poets often explore themes of spirituality, nature, and love in their work.
If you’re looking for some poems that will take you on a journey to the mystical side of life, then check out these five mystic poems that are sure to inspire and delight.
1. I’m Going to Start Living Like a Mystic by Edward Hirsch
I will walk home alone with the deep alone,
a disciple of shadows, in praise of the mysteries.
In Hirsch’s I’m Going to Start Living Like a Mystic, the speaker is describing their intention to embrace a more spiritual and contemplative way of life as they walk through the park on a snowy evening.
The speaker sees the trees in the park as prophets and the snowfall as a kind of secret or mystery. They also describe their intention to study the leaves and the pigeons, to stare into a blank pond for signs, and to walk home alone with the deep alone, as if they are a disciple of shadows.
The poem uses vivid imagery and descriptive language to convey the speaker’s desire to find meaning and connection with the divine through the natural world. The use of the word “Sophia,” a name often associated with wisdom, suggests that the speaker is seeking a deeper understanding of the world and their place in it. The mention of “constellated” skies and “occultation” also suggests a fascination with the mysteries of the universe.
I’m Going to Start Living Like a Mystic, as a whole, is a poem that explores the speaker’s desire to adopt a more introspective and spiritual lifestyle and to discover purpose and satisfaction through a closer relationship with nature and the riddles of the cosmos.
2. Auguries of Innocence by William Blake
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour
William Blake’s poem Auguries of Innocence explores the difference between youth and maturity. The poet believes that the natural world is in a condition of a perpetual cycle; the entire planet, which is regenerated and reconstructed throughout nature, represents man’s innocence, which is abandoned and neglected as man moves closer to adulthood.
Blake examines the benefits and drawbacks of the human viewpoint in comparison to the natural cycle, which sometimes remains undisturbed and unaltered while also growing older and more experienced. His fury at the human race and his country’s corruption is almost tangible throughout the entire poem.
The word “auguries” refers to omens or signs, and by titling this poem Auguries of Innocence, Blake is informing his audience that this poem will examine the nebulous idea of innocence and what he thinks is evidence for this innocence.
In addition, the ultimate aim of Blake’s poetry is union with God. It also serves as a testament and character witness to Blake’s brilliance and forward-thinking. Although these ideas are not novel, the fact that Blake was able to incorporate them into poetry demonstrates his genuine genius. He sought to utilize poetry to reflect his complex worldview and thoughts about the society he was a part of, as well as his mythology, which was at once partially political, partially mythical, and partially divine.
3. T’is So Much Joy by Emily Dickinson
’T is so much joy! ’T is so much joy!
If I should fail, what poverty!
It’s impossible to read T’is So Much Joy and not realize that Emily Dickinson was a deep mystic. The very first line starts with a joyful exclamation. In the midst of the overwhelming experience, the words seem to be struggling to articulate themselves.
In the poem, the speaker alludes to the apex of indescribable delight itself, the startling realization that she has attained the celestial realm. The heaven with which she ends the poem is the same bliss she alluded to in the beginning. She has “gained” this as a result of taking a risk “all upon a throw.” Since she honestly acknowledges that she is “poor” and defective, she is astounded by her achievement and struggles to accept that it is even possible.
She believed that giving up this experience of ecstatic oneness would constitute failure. But by realizing that she doesn’t have anything else to chase, nothing to escape, nothing to crave or dread, she becomes more determined to achieve “Victory.” Even if she eventually “fails,” she has experienced that heavenly sweetness simply for having made it thus far. So why worry about failing?
The speaker quietly declares that she is not only daydreaming but actually experiencing heaven at that very time. She asserts that when you genuinely awaken into heaven, it is a radically different event compared to what is “conjectured” or frequently fantasized. The actual Self, the divine self, is formed when the tiny self, the ego, is released into that increasing bliss. Of course, that is the path to ultimate “Victory.”
4. One Whisper of the Beloved by Rumi
All your talk is worthless
When compared to one whisper
of the Beloved.
In One Whisper of the Beloved, Rumi speaks of the deep and intense love that exists between the lover and the Beloved. It is common for the term “Beloved” to be used as a metaphor for God in Sufi literature and poetry, as it can be seen as representing the divine and eternal love that exists between God and the believer.
Rumi describes the lover’s search for the beloved and the way in which that love transforms and shapes the lover’s being. He speaks of the beloved as the source of all creation and the essence of the lover’s soul and suggests that the love between the two is inseparable and all-consuming. The poem also speaks to the transformative power of this divine love, and the way in which it can bring about a sense of unity and connection with God. It also speaks to the importance of surrendering to and embracing this love, rather than trying to escape or deny it.
5. God, God, God! by Paramahansa Yogananda
From the depths of slumber,
As I ascend the spiral stairways of wakefulness,
I will whisper:
God! God! God!
In God, God, God!, Paramahansa Yogananda speaks of the way in which God is central to his life and the way in which he strives to keep God at the forefront of his thoughts and actions. He speaks of the way in which he will whisper “God! God! God!” as he awakens from sleep, suggesting that God is the first thing on his mind as he begins each new day. Yogananda also speaks of the way in which he will taste and savor God as he breaks his fast, suggesting that God is the source of his sustenance and nourishment.
Yogananda also speaks of the way in which he will keep the “spotlight of [his] mind” turned on God, even in the midst of the “battle din of activity,” suggesting that he makes a conscious effort to keep God at the center of his thoughts and actions, even in the midst of the busyness and distractions of everyday life.
Additionally, Yogananda speaks of the way in which he will use the mantra “God! God! God!” to drown out the “boisterous storms of trials” and the “worries” that howl at him, suggesting that he uses the repetition of this mantra as a way of finding peace and comfort in difficult times. Through the repetition of the mantra “God! God! God!” and the focus on God in all aspects of his life, Yogananda expresses his deep devotion and love for God.
6. Lifts Beyond Comprehension by Hafiz
Independent
Of this body is my mind
When the call from the Golden Nightingale
Lifts and pours my being throughout
The Sky.
Hafiz’s Lifts Beyond Comprehension speaks of the interconnected and hierarchical nature of the human being, with the mind, heart, and spirit each having its own level of independence and sovereignty. He speaks of the way in which the mind can be lifted and expanded by the call of the “Golden Nightingale,” and the way in which the heart can be illuminated by the “shadow of His tress.” Hafiz also speaks of the spirit as having wings that can climb to such a sublime height that they become the sun itself and “reside – perched beyond every throne / known to man.”
The poem speaks to the transformative power of love and the way in which it can lift and expand the mind, illuminate the heart, and elevate the spirit. The final lines of the poem speak to the ultimate goal of the Sufi path of love, which is to become “The Inconceivable” and “The Creator of God / Himself.” These lines suggest the idea of reaching a state of divine unity and oneness with God.
Final thoughts
The mysteries of life and love are explored in these mystic poems. They reflect on the longing for something more, the joys and sorrows of relationships, and the beauty of nature. Whether you are looking for a little inspiration or simply a good read, I hope these poems have touched your heart.
Other poems you might like:
- 12 Radiant Poems On Angels We All Can Appreciate
- 47 Famous Quotes From The Wise Persian Poets
- 11+ Best Poems For The Soul Everyone Should Read
- 7 Confusing Poems About Confusion You’ll Love
- 10 Poems of Tao Yuanming Everyone Should Read
Thomas Dao is the guy who created Poem Home, a website where people can read about all things poetry related. When he’s not busy working on his next project, you can find him reading a good book or spending time with family and friends.
