I’ve never been much invested in New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day (except for the years when I watched the Bowl games), or the practice of making New Year’s resolutions. I’ve synced my psyche these last four-plus decades more to the liturgical calendar starting in late November or early December with the season of Advent than to the civil calendar. That being said, I was trying to think of something to post in lieu of the fact that countless articles will no doubt be written today on the benefits and hazards of New Year’s resolutions. So for those whose first resolution this year was not to make resolutions or read about them, I offer the poem below as a worthy and edifying alternative.

These words appear all over the website and have been misattributed to the illustrious 19th century poet, painter, and printmaker William Blake. Blake wrote many fine poems and doesn’t need to add one more to his oeuvre, especially one that he didn’t pen. Here’s a little background. The poem is by Theodore Roszak and appears in his book Where the Wasteland Ends: Politics and Transcendence in Postindustrial Society published in 1972. Three years earlier, and three weeks after Woodstock in 1969, he came out with a pivotal book on the societal shift taking place in America and elsewhere around the world titled The Making of a Counter Culture: Reflections on the Technocratic Society. 

When Where the Wasteland Ends came out, the New York Times book reviewer Anatole Broyard devoted two book review columns to it. Of the book he said “Wasteland” is “nothing less than a State of the Union Message on the condition of the human soul.” Some of his analysis—unfortunately—is proving to be prescient. And yet, Roszak was actually considered by some to be too optimistic as his commentary also included his sense that humans possessed a wealth of new, transformative possibilities. The question remains—will we wake up (catch fire).

I have always found Roszak’s words provocative, aspirational, wise, and today at the beginning of 2022 timely. Instead of finishing that crossed-out list of resolutions, consider focusing on living in response to the full weight of Roszak’s repeated word “unless” which harkens back to the Hebrew prophets and still applies all these years later. So, between the chips and the dips and the buffalo wings and the touchdowns and the editing of your resolution list, here is something to chew on.

Unless the eye catch fire,
The God will not be seen.

Unless the ear catch fire,
The God will not be heard.

Unless the tongue catch fire,
The God will not be named.

Unless the heart catch fire,
The God will not be loved.

Unless the mind catch fire,
The God will not be known.

~ Theodore Roszak

NB! I am aware that many people—especially in the Denver area and in Oklahoma this past week and throughout the U.S. in 2021 suffered the loss of loved ones, homes, animals, property, not to mention the environmental devastation. I trust that you can read the words “catch fire” metaphorically. Yet, maybe it is apropo, because unless those dimensions of each and all humans are aroused to action in responding to climate change and in developing a reverent kinship with the earth, we’re in deep trouble and our children and grandchildren will be in deeper yet.

Goodpeople, thank you for reading and commenting on THE ALMOND TREE. A thousand goodnesses be yours. ~ Dan

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