When Selected Poems first appeared in 1959 ... that the most profitable way to approach Merton is for philosophical content before poetic artistry. Still, if Merton’s compelling and sincere engagement ...

It will come back to life in generation after generation. Like that dim light just before the dawn. No. There’s no light. At Utopia’s core there can never be light. Our hearts are pitch black.

Author and adventurer Maria Coffey finds resonances in the poem, and discusses with Helen whether the hours before dawn - without daytime distractions - can also strip back something and reveal ...