Outward and inward journey

A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place, often a church. The outward journey helps the pilgrim to make the journey inwards.

A journey towards the inner room that is in every human being, facing heaven.

Romanesque arches

Inside the huge Romanesque church
the tourists jostled in the half darkness.
Vault gaped behind vault, no complete view.
A few candle flames flickered.
An angel with no face embraced me
and whispered through my whole body:
“Don’t be ashamed of being human, be proud!
Inside you vault opens behind vault endlessly.
You will never be complete, that’s how it’s meant to be.”
Blind with tears
I was pushed out on the sun-seething piazza
together with Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Mr. Tanaka, and Signora Sabatini,
and inside each of them vault opened behind vault endlessly.

Tomas Tranströmer – transl. Robin Fulton