I am looking for a poem called "The Other" and I don't know the
author.  The poem was e-mailed to me a few years ago by a friend of a
friend (who no longer has it and forgot who sent it - of course).  The
author might not be famous or published which is why I think I am having
difficulty finding it.  Two partial verses I remember: "a swell born
in the Atlantic" and "letting our prayers break on him".  At the end
of the poem (short poem) the author realizes he is not alone and that
"the other" is with him and the reader senses that "the other" is God.
Any help greatly appreciated :-)

Hello Mrs. Clooney,

The author of the poem "The Other" was the Reverend R S Thomas. 

“The Reverend R S Thomas, poet, died 25 September 2000, aged 87.
(..)The combination of cleric and poet is now perhaps rarer than it
once was, and the combination of brilliant poet and cleric has always
been elusive. As The Guardian notes, his poem 'The Other' is inscribed
in St Hywyn, Aberdaron, where he was parish priest for many years”

Due to copyright reasons I will only provide a few lines of the poem
but you may read the complete poem here:
http://morgue.anglicansonline.org/001001/


“There are nights that are so still …”

(..)

“It is then that I lie
in the lean hours awake listening
to the swell born somewhere in
the Atlantic
rising and falling…”

(..)

“...letting our prayers break on him,
not like this for a few hours,
but for days, years, for eternity.” 
 
Anglicans Online
http://morgue.anglicansonline.org/001001/


You can read more about this poet and read the complete poem in an
article published September 27, 2000, in the Guardian.

"The unchanging themes of his poetry were God and the sparse natural
world of the north Wales parishes which he served for 40 years as a
Church in Wales priest."

“Thomas's poem The Other stands inscribed on slate in the gaunt
village church of St Hywyn, Aberdaron, where he was parish priest for
11 years”

Guardian Newspapers Limited  
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,373779,00.html


 
Search Criteria:
"letting our prayers break on him" 


I hope this helps. If anything is unclear or if a link does not
function, please let me know and I’ll be glad to offer further
assistance.


Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga

Speedy and thorough answer.

What a remarkable poem! Thank you, Mrs. Clooney, for bringing it to
our attention. And thank you, Bobbie, for finding it.

The poem reminds me very much of "The Peace of Wild Things," by
Wendell Berry, with this key exception: Berry does not acknowledge the
presence of "The Other."

...I come into the peace of wild things 
who do not tax their lives with forethought 
of grief. I come into the presence of still water. 
And I feel above me the day-blind stars 
waiting for their light. For a time 
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. 

http://oldpoetry.com/poetry/8704

Thank you Bobbie!  Great information.  My dad just passed away at the
age of 56 and he liked this poem and it reminds me of him so I wanted
to frame it.  I'm so glad you found it for me :-)  Pinkfreud: I like
"The Peace of Wild Things" - very nice.

Mrs. Clooney,

I'm glad to have been able to help.  

--Bobbie7

I've found a website which offers more poems by RS Thomas, and
information about him:

http://www.utdallas.edu/~jenelow/RS.html