The Rooms Where It Happened

Last week I stood beneath C.S. Lewis’s rooms at Magdalen College in Oxford and shared the story of his journey from atheism to belief in God. To my left (in the picture) is a nature trail called Addison’s Walk where Lewis famously walked and talked with J.R.R. Tolkien and talked about how Christianity is the one true myth that gives meaning and explanation to all of our epic stories. Below is a poem Lewis in honor of this experience and the audio from my talk.

What the Bird Said Early in the Year

I heard in Addison’s Walk a bird sing clear:
This year the summer will come true. This year. This year.

Winds will not strip the blossom from the apple trees
This year, nor want of rain destroy the peas.

This year time’s nature will no more defeat you,
Nor all the promised moments in their passing cheat you.

This time they will not lead you round and back
To Autumn, one year older, by the well-worn track.

This year, this year, as all these flowers foretell,
We shall escape the circle and undo the spell.

Often deceived, yet open once again your heart,
Quick, quick, quick, quick!—the gates are drawn apart.