At the Lifting the Veil retreat in Boston, October 2026, I rejoiced to pick up this woodblock print by Stephen Crotts. Stephen, of course, is the renowned illustrator for Malcolm Guite’s Merlin’s Isle Arthurian saga. The fine paper and crisp impression of the ink make this work of art a striking addition to our home. We currently have it displayed in a window we face during morning prayer.
It was originally printed in Malcolm Guite, Galahad and the Grail, p. 362. There we read:
“For God himself is the True Bard
and sings creation through His Word.
And Dindrane learned from all she heard
and knew each star, each stone, each bird,
as parts of one great Whole.
By night she kept pure vigil there
and morning came too soon.
For she would see the stars wheel by
and hear their music from on high
and feel their influence and cry
in ecstasy when she’d descry
a sphere of silver light draw nigh.
Then she would life her eyes and spy
above the valley’s chalice high
the wafer of the Moon.”
— from “The Quest of Fair Dindrane,” pp. 361-362.
Gazing upon it, we also cannot help but remember these lines:
Moon hanging lonely there in the sky
Looking so holy, a host held up high
Off in the distance, a train going by
Why does it move us, and cause us to sigh
Why do we hunger for beauty?
— written by Noel Paul Stookey
See “Why do we hunger for beauty,” sung by Steve Bell with unadorned guitar from his Pilgrimage album.
Steve Bell concert with Malcolm Guite
at Lifting the Veil, Boston, October 2026. Photo by CM.
Stephen Crotts and Malcolm Guite
at Walden Pond, October, 2026. Photos by KM.
