First Things RSS Feed - Daniel Brown https://www.firstthings.com/author/daniel-brown en-us Copyright 2025 First Things. All Rights Reserved. ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:51:24 -0500 https://d2201k5v4hmrsv.cloudfront.net/img/favicon-196.png First Things RSS Feed Image https://www.firstthings.com/rss/author/daniel-brown 60 Mystery https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/01/mystery https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/01/mystery Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500 You could, for mental exercise, do worse
Than work the puzzle of a universe
That kindly took the trouble to exist:
Of mysteries, it’s said, the mightiest.

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]]> Christ Crowned with Thorns https://www.firstthings.com/article/2020/04/christ-crowned-with-thorns https://www.firstthings.com/article/2020/04/christ-crowned-with-thorns Wed, 01 Apr 2020 06:00:00 -0400 To really hear what I’m about to say
Is probably impossible apart
From taking in the painting at its heart.
From reeling, in the process, at the way
The blood, beyond its trickling down his brow,
Has gotten in his vitreum somehow.

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]]> In a Church in Venice https://www.firstthings.com/article/2010/05/in-a-church-in-venice https://www.firstthings.com/article/2010/05/in-a-church-in-venice Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400 Its marble floor includes
a graven granite slab: Monteverdi’s.
I mention this not
to tell you he’s gone”
already old news
when Bach was still a gleam in the eye of God”
but to tell you whose stone
roses are scattered on:
as though the loss were fresh as yesterday.

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