Thomas Merton: The Collected Poems of Thomas Merton

What does it mean to seek God in solitude while engaging the world's suffering? Thomas Merton's The Collected Poems of Thomas Merton presents the complete poetic works of one of the twentieth century's most influential spiritual writers—a Trappist monk whose poetry bridges contemplative silence and prophetic witness. Merton (1915-1968), known as Father Louis at the Abbey of Gethsemani where he lived for twenty-seven years, published over fifty books during his lifetime. This definitive New Directions volume assembles all his published poetry collections plus unpublished and uncollected material, revealing the impressive range of his technique, the scope of his concerns, and the humaneness of his vision.

This comprehensive collection includes all of Merton's major poetry volumes: Thirty Poems (1944), A Man in the Divided Sea (1946), Figures for an Apocalypse (1947), The Tears of the Blind Lions (1949), The Strange Islands (1957), Cables to the Ace (1968), and The Geography of Lograire (1968), plus Early Poems and Sensation Time at the Home. The volume also includes uncollected poems, humorous verse, French poems with translations, Merton's translations from various languages, drafts and fragments, and concrete poems. Merton's poetry evolved from traditional devotional verse to experimental, prophetic work engaging war, technology, and social justice, always grounded in contemplative vision.

For contemplative readers, Merton's poetry offers profound meditation on solitude, prayer, social justice, and the examined life. His work asks: How do we balance contemplation and action? What is the relationship between silence and prophetic witness? How do we seek God in a violent world? Merton's verse becomes a companion for engaged spirituality—teaching contemplative depth, prophetic courage, and the conviction that prayer and justice are inseparable.

What You'll Discover
Merton's complete collected poems in definitive New Directions edition
All major poetry collections from 1944-1968 plus unpublished material
Evolution from devotional verse to experimental, prophetic poetry
Poems on contemplation, solitude, war, technology, and social justice
French poems, translations, concrete poems, and humorous verse
Twentieth-century contemplative poetry bridging monastery and world

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was born in France, raised in England and America, and entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky in 1941. His autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain (1948) became a bestseller and introduced millions to contemplative life. As a monk, he wrote extensively on contemplation, mysticism, social justice, and interfaith dialogue, becoming one of the most influential spiritual writers of the twentieth century. His later years saw increasing engagement with Eastern spirituality, peace activism, and prophetic witness. He died tragically in 1968 while attending an interfaith conference in Bangkok. His poetry and prose continue to inspire seekers bridging contemplation and action.

Perfect for: Readers of mystical and spiritual poetry, students of Thomas Merton and contemplative literature, those exploring Catholic monasticism and Trappist spirituality, anyone interested in poetry bridging contemplation and social justice, readers of 20th-century American poetry, students of interfaith dialogue and Eastern-Western spirituality, admirers of verse that combines contemplative depth with prophetic witness and humaneness of vision.

Paperback edition. Merton's collected poems—offering contemplative wisdom on solitude, prayer, and prophetic witness through the evolving, humane voice of one of the twentieth century's most influential spiritual writers.