A poem

[antonian]

TRASNA

The pilgrims paused on the ancient stones
In the mountain gap.

Behind them stretched the roadway they had travelled .
Ahead, mist hid the track.

Unspoken the question hovered:
Why go on? Is life not short enough?

Why seek to pierce its mystery?
Why venture further on strange paths, risking all'

Surely that is a gamble for fools - or lovers.
Why not return quietly to the known road?

Why be a pilgrim still?
A voice they knew called to them, saying:

This is Trasna, the crossing place.
Choose! Go back if you must,

You will find your way easily by yesterday's fires,
there may be life in the embers yet.

If that is not your deep desire,
Stand still. Lay down your load.

Take your life firmly in your two hands,
(Gently... you are trusted with something precious)

While you search your heart's yearnings:
What am I seeking? What is my quest?

When your star rises deep within,
Trust yourself to its leading.

You will have the light for first steps.
This is Trasna, the crossing place.

Choose!
This is Trasna, the crossing place

Come !

[JDM]

What's the origin of this piece, Antonian? Yours? It is nicel written. jdm

[Douglas]

Cavafy's poem 'Ithaca' should be required reading before you start walking. I'm so sorry I didn't discover it until I got back. But without the Camino, I might never have discovered it at all.

[Leslie]

Thanks Douglas - I had to go and watch and now it is on my Camino blog - I had just finished the first yr at Uni when I first walked the Camino and during that year I had studied Greek history and fell in love with much of it and the idea of the Odyssey which I of course read.

[Priscillian]

I would like to comment on the idea of choice in this beautiful poem. About half way through the Montes de Oca on the way to St. Juan de Ortega, there is a small plinth at the centre of a crossways. On the Camino, of course, one approaches it from the east. It is a nice place for a sandwich, a little water. But then the pilgrim continues on...westwards. Why not north or south? The path runs there too. This place always reminds me that the Way is the destination and that perhaps we are always on the Camino.
Tracy Saunders
Pilgrimage to Heresy - Home

[ken huocj]

Thnx Douglas, Sean Connery's recitation and music sets the mood. SJPP start sept 10th and hopefully Fisterre by oct 18th. It's all getting excitng now ;-)

[martinstuart]

Love the Trasna poem. (I think us Irish should tell others who don't speak Irish that 'trasna' is an Irish word meaning 'across'--a perfect word for the title).

Thanks Douglas - I had to go and watch and now it is on my Camino blog

Thanks, Leslie, for the link. Had heard of the poem, but never heard it. What a poem (and so well read--slow). By the way, thanks too for this site!


For over two years now I've been meaning to post the following poem on this site in this section. I jotted it down on the 6th August 2007 from a poster on a wall close to the altar in the church of "San Andres de la Faba" in the pueblo of La Faba, beside the albergue restored and run by the German Association "Ultreia". It's attributed to Fraydino La Faba but almost certainly the 'la Faba' is simply the name of the pueblo.

I think it captures well the conflicting choice Christians face on the Camino between being a tourist or a pilgrim traveler (me: in keeping with the famous advice in the book of Kings, "there's a time for" being both!).

By googling I see that 'Deirdre' posted this already (a few typos, mine too probably) in the miscellaneous section somewhere ('The Inner Journey', 2007) but I hope you will leave it here as I think it fits well in this religion & spirituality section of the forum.

Most people going on the Camino will have a smattering of Spanish and I figure they can get the gist of the meaning of it. It's better in Spanish than any translation I could do--the rhythm flows well en espanol.


The Poem From La Faba

Aunque hubiera recorrido todos los caminos,
cruzado montañas y valles
desde Oriente hasta Occidente,
si no he descubierto la libertad de ser yo mismo
no he llegado a ningún sitio.

Aunque hubiera compartido todos mis bienes
con gentes de otra lengua y cultura,
hecho amistad con peregrinos de mil senderos
o compartido albergue con santos y principes,
si no soy capaz de perdonar mañana a mi vecino,
no he llegado a ningún sitio.

Aunque hubiera cargado mi mochila de principio a fin
y esperado por cada peregrino necesitado de ánimo,
o cedido mi cama a quien llegó después,
y regalado mi botellín de agua a cambio de nada,
si de regreso a mi casa y mi trabajo no soy capaz
de crear fraternidad y poner alegría, paz y unidad,
no he llegado a ningún sitio.

Aunque hubiera tenido comida y agua cada día,
y disfrutado de techo y ducha todas las noches,
o hubiera sido bien atendido de mis heridas,
si no he descubierto en todo ello el amor de Dios,
no he llegado a ningún sitio.

Aunque hubiera visto todos los monumentos
y contemplado las mejores puestas del sol;
Aunque hubiera aprendido un saludo en cada idioma,
o probado el agua limpia de todas las fuentes,
si no he descubierto quién es autor
de tanta belleza gratuita y de tanta paz
no he llegado a ningún sitio.

Si a partir de hoy no sigo caminando en tus caminos,
buscando y viviendo según lo aprendido;
Si a partir de hoy no veo en cada persona,
amigo y enemigo, un compañero de camino;
Si a partir de hoy no reconozco a Dios,
el Dios de Jesús de Nazaret,
como el único Dios de mi vida,
no he llegado a ningún sitio.

[ken huocj]

Not being even a beginner in Spanish, curiosity forced me to use Google Translate
so that i too may share and relive my own journey along the Camino France in 2009.
" " Although it would have gone through all the roads,
crossed mountains and valleys
from East to West,
if I have not discovered the freedom to be myself
I have not gotten anywhere.

Although I shared all my goods
with people of another language and culture,
Pilgrims made friends with a thousand paths
hostel or shared with saints and princes,
if I'm unable to forgive my neighbor tomorrow,
I have not gotten anywhere.

Although it would have loaded my pack from start to finish
and expected by every pilgrim in need of encouragement,
or otherwise disposed of my bed who came later,
and given my bottle of water for nothing,
if I return to my home and my work I can not
fraternity and to create joy, peace and unity,
I have not gotten anywhere.

Even if it had food and water every day
and enjoyed the ceiling and shower every night
or would have been well taken care of my wounds,
if I have not discovered all the love of God,
I have not gotten anywhere.

Although I had seen all the monuments
and provided the best sunsets;
Although I had learned a greeting in each language
or tested clean water from all sources,
if I have not discovered who is the author
such beauty and such peace free
I have not gotten anywhere.

If as of today still no walk in your ways,
looking and living as learned;
If from now I see in every person,
friend and enemy, a traveling companion;
If as of today do not recognize God,
the God of Jesus of Nazareth
as the only God in my life
I have not gotten anywhere. " "

[Covey]

Even with the vagaries of the Google Translator, the poem sums up how most of us feel.