16 JANUARY 1988, Page 32

Sonnet

No other language but that of the Creed

Will serve to say the things which must be said.

And what things are they? All things, I said: Or did not all things come from the same seed — The seed which is unsowable indeed?

When we name that, we say what we cannot know, Much less express, the inexpressible, so Beyond our every thought or word or deed.

So no word counts which is not beyond speech, No action but what is beyond our reach, And if we rest, it is in mystery.

No explanation touches us, no word, Once spoken, is not more or less absurd: