Pater noster Our Father who art in heaven Stay there And…
““Pater noster Our Father who art in heaven Stay there And we'll stay here on earth Which is sometimes so pretty With its mysteries of New York And its mysteries of Paris At least as good as that of the Trinity With its little canal at Ourcq Its great wall of China Its river at Morlaix Its candy canes With its Pacific Ocean And its two basins in the Tuileries With its good children and bad people With all the wonders of the world Which are here Simply on the earth Offered to everyone Strewn about Wondering at the wonder of themselves And daring not avow it As a naked pretty girl dares not show herself With the world's outrageous misfortunes Which are legion With legionaries With torturers With the masters of this world The masters with their priests their traitors and their troops With the seasons With the years With the pretty girls and with the old bastards With the straw of misery rotting in the steel of cannons.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem juxtaposes sacred prayer with worldly wonders, highlighting humanity’s blend of reverence and earthly curiosity, and the paradox of seeking meaning amid chaos.
In simple terms: Prayer meets everyday marvels.
Key Takeaway
Find wonder in both sacred and mundane.
Themes
spirituality
wonder
paradox
humanity
culture
city
Mood
reflective
poetic
enigmatic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- travel
- urban exploration
- personal meditation
- artistic inspiration
Key Concepts
sacred vs profane
existential curiosity
global perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the poem suggest about the sacred in daily life?
- How do you balance reverence with curiosity?
A Different Perspective
The chaotic list may overwhelm rather than clarify a central message.